Fic: Unconditional (1 & 2/4)

[froxyn]

Title: Unconditional
Author: Froxyn
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: FRAO overall/This part FRT
Timeline: One month after Zephyr.
Synopsis: Only one type of love is truly unconditional.
Author’s Note: Part XXXII of the Giles Family Series.



Giles smiled as he looked out the kitchen window, watching Evan and Callie take turns chasing one another around the yard. Hearing a soft snore, he grinned and turned his gaze to the newest member of the family...who was currently sleeping soundly in Callie’s bed in the corner of the kitchen.

Zephyr had integrated himself within the family nearly immediately. Callie had become very protective of the puppy, becoming more of a mother-figure for him than anything else. More than once she’d put him into place with a low growl.

Giles had mused that training Zeph was going to be a lot easier due to Callie’s influence. Buffy had laughed at him, but it was proving true. Zephyr was already sitting, staying, dropping, standing...and doing them all perfectly. Something that Giles had had to work with Callie on.

But, he was still a puppy. Giles chuckled as he watched Zephyr roll onto his back and stretch all four legs. A very cute puppy, Giles amended his thoughts.

Hearing the front door open and close, he looked at the clock and narrowed his eyes. It was way too early for any member of his immediate family to be back. He shook his head in amusement as he waited for his visitor. There was only one person who didn’t bother knocking, or ringing the doorbell, these days.

Just as Ethan walked into the kitchen, the microwave’s timer dinged. Ethan sniffed the air, nodding appreciatively.

“What’s for lunch?” Ethan asked before looking over his shoulder and into the living room. “And where is everyone?”

“Buffy and Willow took Haddie and Maria shopping for a birthday party they’re both going to.” Giles removed the container from the microwave and carefully pulled the lid off. “Braden and Lucas went over to Jason’s house. Evan’s outside with Callie. Declan’s down for a nap. And Zephyr is asleep in Callie’s bed.”

Ethan chuckled and opened the refrigerator. “Well, that was a longer explanation than I was expecting.”

Giles shrugged and pulled a loaf of bread from the bread box. “If I hadn’t told you, you would’ve just asked about them individually...and that would’ve taken longer. What are you looking for?”

“Don’t know...something good?” Ethan grinned and looked over at Giles. His grin was quickly replaced with a scowl. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Getting Evan’s lunch ready.” Giles replied casually. “Could you hand me the cheese?”

“Cheese?”

“Top shelf, behind the jam. The Kraft cheese, not the proper cheese.” Giles shook his head disdainfully as he carefully spooned some of the contents from the container onto a slice of bread. “He takes after his mother in that respect.”

“What do you mean?” Ethan asked as he pulled the package of sliced cheese out of the refrigerator. “And, really...what the hell are you doing?”

“I told you...Evan’s lunch. And he’ll only eat this processed, cheese-like...substance.” Giles responded with a light shudder. “Just like his mother. Bloody colonials...”

Ethan snorted, dropping the package of cheese on the counter. “She’s acclimatized to England fairly well, you know. But...that still doesn’t explain why you’re putting spaghetti on bread.”

“I blame Xander...and Willow. They introduced him to it.” Giles rolled his eyes and gestured vaguely with the spoon in his hand. “Spaghetti sandwiches. Apparently, they were Xander’s favourite when he was a child. And now I have a hard time getting Evan to eat anything but.”

Ethan continued to watch Giles assemble the sandwich, furrowing his brow as Giles opened the oven and slid the finished sandwich under the grill. “Has to be toasted, huh?”

“If it’s not toasted, then the cheese doesn’t melt.” Giles sighed heavily and glanced back out the window. “I’ve been cooking for over forty years and my six-year-old son is giving me culinary advice.”

Ethan laughed out loud at that comment and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’s a bit of a spitfire...always has been.”

Giles smiled and reached over to place the lid on the container of cooling spaghetti. “Mm-hm, that’s a...polite...way of saying he’s a high-maintenance child.”

“Polite? When have I ever been polite?” Ethan scoffed. “And why don’t you just use tinned spaghetti? Seems like that’d be easier. Especially for sandwiches...”

“Tinned spaghetti? I’ll not have my children consuming such rubbish.” Giles stared incredulously at Ethan as he picked up the package of cheese. “That’s worse than this vile...thing...that passes for cheese. If he’s going to insist on eating something that revolting then it’s at least going to have some amount of nourishment to it.”

“So you make your own spaghetti?”

Giles returned the cheese and container of remaining pasta to the refrigerator, nodding as he closed the refrigerator door. “At least I know what’s in it.”

“You make your own spaghetti...in what looks like would have to be at least a double batch...and keep it in Tupperware in the fridge so that your son can have spaghetti sandwiches...”

Giles carefully pulled the nicely toasted sandwich out of the oven and slid it onto a plate. Hearing the amusement in Ethan’s tone, the corner of Giles’ mouth quirked into a smile. He grabbed a knife from the knife block and precisely cut the sandwich into four pieces.

“I do...” Giles replied, pulling a fork from the dish drainer and placing it on the plate along with the sandwich. “Because he’s my son. Do me a favour and call him in?”

Ethan chuckled and glanced over at Zephyr, who was now staring back at him through chocolate brown eyes as the tip of his tail wagged. “Hey, Zeph...”

At the sound of his name, Zephyr stood up and stretched as he yawned. As Ethan opened the back door to call Evan, Zephyr galloped across the kitchen...his nails clicking against the hardwood floor. Giles laughed as the puppy slid between Ethan’s legs and raced onto the back porch at the same time as Evan ran up the steps.

Evan barely gave Ethan enough time to step to the side before he ran through the door, excitedly asking about his sketti sandwich. He paused when his father gave him a look, smiling sheepishly as he looked up at Ethan and grinned.

“Hi, Ethan!”

Ethan chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Hey, Evvie. Your dad said that it’d be okay if we shared lunch.”

Giles stifled his laughter as he listened to his son tell Ethan, in no uncertain terms, that if he wanted a sketti sandwich, he could get his own. Ethan was unable to stifle his laughter...calling out a ‘hi’ to Callie before pushing the door closed.

Callie wagged her tail and gave a deep welcoming bark, wagging her tail as she watched Ethan close the door before nudging Zephyr with her nose. Zephyr took the hint and quickly found a place to squat. Callie waited, sitting patiently until Zephyr jumped up and launched himself at her.

For a moment, Giles watched the two roll around on the grass in play...smiling as Callie playfully batted the puppy with her paw. Knowing that Callie would take care of Zephyr, Giles grabbed the plate and gestured for Evan to sit at the table.

Evan grinned up at his father as he climbed into a chair. “Thanks Daddy!”

Giles put the plate in front of him, leaning down to kiss the top of the boy’s head. “You’re welcome, Ev. Remember to use your serviette, okay?”

“It’s a napkin...” Evan stated as he picked up his fork and cut through one of the four pieces of sandwich. “Mummy says.”

Giles huffed a soft laugh and then gave Ethan a pointed look. He didn’t say a word, but Ethan could read the word plainly in Giles’ eyes.

Colonials.

Ethan answered with a grin and pulled out the chair opposite Evan’s. “Yeah, Rupe...it’s a napkin.”

Giles rolled his eyes and pushed the serviette closer to Evan’s hand.

* * *

Evan had just finished his lunch, with Zephyr and Callie sitting either side of his chair to clean up any scraps that he might drop, when Giles smiled brightly. Ethan arched an eyebrow at his best friend as he finished off a ham and cheddar sandwich that he’d made for himself.

“What are you smiling about?” He asked, chewing and swallowing the last mouthful.

“If someone had told me twenty years ago that one day you’d be sitting at my kitchen table, having lunch and teasing one of my children relentlessly about spaghetti sandwiches...”

Ethan snorted and gave him a quick nod. “Yeah, I know. Michael and I were talking about...” He glanced at Evan and then sat back in his chair, quickly substituting his words. “...how things used to be just the other day.”

“How did things used to be?” Evan asked, wiping his hands on the spaghetti sauce-smeared napkin.

“Different.” Giles replied, handing his son a clean napkin to use instead. “Sometimes, friends...grow apart. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can make life different.”

Evan wiped the napkin across his mouth and furrowed his brow. “Huh?”

“You know how you sometimes argue with your brothers and sister?” Giles asked, pausing until Evan gave him a nod. “Well, Ethan and I used to argue...quite a lot. And for a while, we weren’t friends anymore.”

Evan’s eyes widened as they darted between his father and Ethan. “Really?”

“Mm-hm. But, when Mummy was pregnant with Braden...Ethan did something very good. And after that, we decided that we’d be friends again.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow at the very condensed, and child-friendly, version of their reconciliation. Expecting a question about what it was that he had done, Ethan sat back in his chair and smiled at Evan.

Evan smiled back and rubbed Callie’s head. “I’m glad you and Daddy are friends again.”

“Yeah?” Ethan’s smile grew and he glanced at Giles before reaching down to scoop Zephyr up. “Me too, Evvie.”

“Wanna play the PlayStation with me?”

Ethan chuckled and gave him a nod. “Yeah, okay...as long as it’s not tennis.”

Giles grinned and waited for the impending argument. He wasn’t disappointed, Evan protesting Ethan’s refusal to play his favourite game. Ethan gave in quickly, just as Giles had expected, and followed Evan into the living room.

Giles cleared the lunch dishes from the table and smiled at Callie. “You going to keep an eye on them or are you coming with me to wake Declan up?”

Callie stood up and wagged her tail, her brown eyes shining brightly as she smiled up at him. Giles chuckled and reached down to give her a scratch behind her ear.

“You really do have a beautiful smile, Cal. I can’t wait to see what Zeph’s is going to be like.”

Callie followed him across the kitchen, nudging her nose against the back of his knee as he placed the dishes into the sink. Giles shook his head in amusement and looked down at her.

“Alright, alright...let’s go wake Declan up then.”

Callie took a step back, wagging her tail furiously before turning and running from the room. Giles laughed softly, knowing that Callie would be waiting outside Declan’s door by the time he got there.

Chapter Two

“So...” Willow started as she watched her daughter run towards the swings. “How’s Giles dealing with the not-aging spell thingy?”

Buffy smiled, sitting down on a bench as Haddie chased after Maria. “Better than I would’ve thought, actually. He’s seemed to have...it’s almost like’s he’s embraced it as well as accepting it. It’s weird.”

Willow raised an eyebrow as she sat down next to Buffy. “Weird?”

“Well, yeah...but, it’s a good kind of weird. I mean...he seems really happy about it.” Buffy chuckled as Haddie tripped over a tree root. “And...I have to admit, it made me really happy too. After I found out that there were no weird side-effects or anything. It’s nice knowing that I’ll be able to grow old with my husband.”

“You were really worried about that, huh?” Willow asked softly.

Buffy shrugged a shoulder and picked at a loose thread on the hem of her jacket. “At first I was worried about leaving him with two...then three, then four kids. But, by the time Declan came along...I was worried about losing him when the kids were still young. I guess that’s the price you pay when you marry someone who’s twenty-four years older than you.”

When Willow snorted, Buffy shot her a questioning glance. Willow just shook her head and leaned back, crossing her legs as she looked over at the two girls playing together on the playground.

“It’s just kinda funny that you didn’t seem to worry about that until you’d been married for thirteen years...”

“Thirteen years on Tuesday.” Buffy corrected automatically. “You know...you hear stories about men forgetting anniversaries and such, but...Giles has never forgotten once. Not even the little things, like...”

Willow grinned as Buffy trailed off. “Like...what?”

Buffy blushed lightly, causing Willow’s grin to grow. “Like...nothing. Did Giles tell you about the demon that Desi came across in Whitechapel?”

“Your attempts at segues aren’t getting any better as you get older, you know.” Willow responded with a laugh. “But, yeah...he said that it was emulating the movements of Jack the Ripper. He also said that it was ‘fascinating’, which I took as ‘hey, it’s research time!’. Thought I’d take Maria and Jake over tonight to help him since it’s your night to patrol.”

Willow shook her head as Buffy’s brow furrowed. “No, what I meant was...I’ll help Giles research and Maria and Jake can play with your brood. Oz needs to talk to Giles about his bracelet anyway.”

“Oh...” Buffy nodded, keeping a close eye on the girls as they climbed onto the see-saw. “What’s wrong with his bracelet?”

“Jake accidentally snagged it while they were playing last night. One of the blood beads came a little loose...Oz is a little worried about it. Especially since the full moon starts next week.”

Buffy sighed softly. So softly that Willow wondered if Buffy was even aware of it. Willow reached over and placed her hand on Buffy’s wrist, smiling as Buffy met her eyes.

“You okay?”

“Huh? Oh...yeah, I just...patrolling isn’t as fun as it used to be.” Buffy answered quietly. “Giles never comes with me anymore...and I understand why. It’s just...I miss patrolling with him. This is the only downfall to having a large family that I’ve found.”

Willow’s smile grew in understanding. “Oz and I can watch the kids, Buffy.”

“If we had one or two, I would’ve already asked. I can’t ask you guys to watch five extra kids.”

“Well...it’s really only three. I mean, Braden and Lucas are old enough to help out.”

Buffy snorted as she shook her head in amusement. “Yeah, if they’re not busy arguing with each other.”

“Really, Buffy...let us do this. You and Giles...well, I think Giles kinda misses going on patrol too.” Willow playfully nudged Buffy’s shoulder with her own. “You know how much he likes watching you.”

Buffy’s face reddened immediately as her eyes widened. “What?”

Willow’s eyes widened as well as she shook her head. “Watching you patrol! Not...not...well, maybe he does like - ”

“Okay!” Buffy interrupted, a little more loudly than she had intended...clearing her throat when Maria and Haddie both looked over at her. “I’ll talk to Giles about it...if you’re sure.”

“Absolutely sure.” Willow grinned as she nodded.

Buffy carefully changed the subject again. And Willow laughed harder.

* * *

Giles smiled as he watched Declan follow Zephyr around the room, laughing as his youngest child clapped his hands and called out “Deppy!”.

“Zephyr.” Evan corrected, rolling a ball down the hall for Callie.

“Yep...Deppy!” Declan grinned at his brother.

Evan laughed and handed a smaller ball to Declan, gesturing towards the hall. “Roll it for Zeph, Deccie.”

Giles flinched as the ball left Declan’s hand...in the opposite direction. Ethan laughed heartily, meeting Giles’ eyes.

“At least it missed the lamp.”

“Yes, quite.” Giles agreed, giving Evan a pointed look. “I’m fairly certain that Declan doesn’t have the dexterity for ball handling yet, Evan.”

“Huh?” Evan asked, confusion in his green eyes.

“Let’s not ask Declan to roll the ball for the dogs, okay?” Giles clarified with a wink.

“Oh, okay.” Evan nodded as he picked up the ball.

“More!” Declan declared, reaching for the ball in his brother’s hand.

Giles shook his head. “No, Declan. No more balls.”

Declan turned towards his father and furrowed his brow. Ethan choked on the mouthful of water he had just attempted to swallow.

Giles stifled his grin and shook his head again. “No throwing things in the house. I have an idea, why don’t you show Uncle Ethan your blocks?”

“Box!” Declan exclaimed, his furrow giving way to a bright grin.

Ethan finally got himself under control as Declan toddled over the toy box in the corner of the room, falling only twice on the way. “Oh, that was just...so very you, Rupert!”

“Buffy says the same when he gives her that look.” Giles responded with a smile. “I find it rather adorable.”

“Well, it is.” Ethan agreed. “I thought it was strange how much he looks like you...but, his mannerisms...did Buffy even get a look-in with this one?”

“Mm-hm...he has her toes.” Giles answered absently.

Ethan watched Declan carry the blocks back towards him, dropping a few across the living room on his way. He smiled adoringly at the boy as he picked him up and sat him down on the couch next to him. He glanced over at Giles as Declan started handing him the blocks one by one.

“You okay?” He asked, noticing the faraway look in Giles’ eyes.

“Hm? Oh...yes.” Giles nodded, sighing when Ethan gave him the look that said he didn’t quite believe him. “It’s just...Buffy has patrol tonight.”

“Ah...”

“Mm.” Giles murmured, reaching down to pick up one of the lost blocks.

“Want me and Michael to watch the kids for you?” Ethan asked, gesturing to the block in Giles’ hand.

Giles tossed the block over to him and narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“Look...I know you miss patrolling with her. It’s not easy with five kids and I can’t remember the last time you went out with her...in the role of her Watcher.”

“It’s Saturday night...don’t you two have plans?”

Ethan shook his head and handed the blue block to Declan. “No, not tonight. Tomorrow, yes. Anya’s coming over...”

Giles narrowed his eyes. “You’re really going to do it?”

“Yeah. I mean...Michael was against it at first, but...”

“But?” Giles prompted as Ethan paused.

“Nothing bad happened to you.” Ethan finished after a moment. “He was worried that something would go wrong, but you’re fine. And I can’t say that I hate the idea of having an extra twenty years with him.”

A small smile played at Giles’ lips as he glanced towards the hall, where Evan was currently chasing Callie up and down the hall while Zephyr chased him. “I know what you mean.”

After a slight hesitation, Ethan grinned and ruffled Declan’s hair as he raised an eyebrow at Giles. “So...did it enhance anything?”

Giles rolled his eyes. “Really, Ethan...only you would even think to ask.”

“Anya would’ve asked.” Ethan argued, his eyes sparkling.

“Buffy stopped her before she could.” Giles admitted, chuckling as he stood up. “I wouldn’t have answered anyway. Just like I’m not answering now.”

Ethan gave him a mock-scowl, to which Giles smiled.

“But...Buffy and I have never needed enhancements.” Giles stated, picking up the other blocks Declan had dropped.

“Toys aren’t enhancements?” Ethan asked, clearly enjoying the turn in the conversation.

Giles glanced at Declan, tossing the blocks back into the toy box as he shook his head. “No...toys are for playing.”

Ethan licked his lips and cleared his throat. “And do we have play time often?”

“Why do I have the feeling that you’re not talking about building blocks?”

Giles and Ethan both turned towards the voice, Giles’ face reddening as Haddie bounded into the room and made a bee-line for him. He picked her up and kissed her cheek before asking how her shopping trip had been.

“Good!” Haddie grinned, wrapping her arms around her father’s neck. “All ready for Antonia’s party tomorrow. Are you and Ethan playing with toys?”

Ethan coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. Giles glanced at Buffy, not really surprised to find her sitting on the arm of the couch and smiling knowingly at him. He shook his head and sighed heavily.

“No, Princess...we were talking about Declan’s next playdate.”

“Oh, that’s tomorrow...” She turned and looked at her mother questioningly. “Right, Mummy?”

“Mm-hm.” Buffy nodded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “While you and Maria are at Antonia’s party. And...Willow and Oz have volunteered to take Evan to his tennis lesson.”

Haddie smiled brightly, her fingers curling in her father’s hair. “That means you and Mummy have to keep Bay and Luke company!”

Giles shook his head, eyes darting to Buffy before settling back on his daughter. “No...Braden and Lucas have their music lessons tomorrow.”

Ethan grinned and pulled Declan onto his lap. “Oh, Michael and I can drop them off and pick ‘em back up. Might even make a stop by the football field afterwards. Local match tomorrow, you know...”

Haddie thought for a moment and furrowed her brow. “But...won’t you be lonely with all of us gone?”

Ethan successfully stifled his laugh. Buffy bit her lip to keep from laughing and reached over to take Declan from Ethan. Giles merely smiled at his daughter and kissed her cheek before brushing her blonde hair back from her face.

“Well...your mother has fallen behind on her training again. I suppose we’ll have to do something to catch her back up. For now...Evan’s missed you. Callie and Zeph can keep him entertained for only so long.”

“Where is he?” Haddie asked as Giles lowered her to the ground.

“In his room, I would imagine. He was playing in the hall earlier.” He glanced over at Buffy, chuckling as Declan squirmed in her arms. “Take Declan with you...but don’t let him throw anything.”

Haddie nodded and took off down the hall. Buffy raised an eyebrow at her husband as Declan trotted along behind his sister.

“Do I want to know?”

“Probably not.” He replied with a grin as the sounds of the giggles of their three youngest children wafted down the hall.

“Well, I for one would like to know...whatever will you do without the kids around, Rupe?” Ethan asked, grinning as he gave his best friend wink.

Giles met Buffy’s eyes and felt a sudden rush of desire. The look in her eyes told him that she’d felt the same thing.

“Well, she is behind in her training...”

Ethan snorted and pushed himself off the couch. “Training...that’s a definite euphemism if I’ve ever heard one. We’ll be back in time for patrol, yeah?”

Giles rolled his eyes, but nodded just the same...smiling as Ethan kissed Buffy’s cheek before fishing his keys out of his pocket. Ethan twirled the keys around his index finger, whistling to himself as he left the room.

“Training?” Buffy asked as the front door open and closed. “That’s the best you could come up with?”

“Well...” Giles started, lowering his voice as he walked over to stand in front of her. “I couldn’t tell my daughter that I have very carnal plans for you...could I?”

“How carnal?” Buffy asked teasingly, slipping the index finger of her right hand into his belt loop and tugging him forward.

“Enough to make you blush, love.” He whispered, bending down to capture her lips in a heated kiss.

Buffy thought of a perfect response just as his tongue slipped into her mouth.

She made a quick decision that her response could wait.

To be continued later today...