Fic: Unconditional (3 & 4/4)

[froxyn]

Title: Unconditional
Author: Froxyn
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Rating: FRAO
Timeline: One month after Zephyr.
Synopsis: There’s only one type of love that truly unconditional.
Author’s Note: Part XXXII of the Giles Family Series.



Chapter Three

“Giles...” Buffy whispered as he sat down on the couch and pulled her from the arm, his lips firmly attached to the side of her neck.

“Mm?” He mumbled against her skin, settling her atop his thighs.

“You should stop...” She croaked out, closing her eyes as she felt him harden beneath her.

“Stop me.” He whispered, kissing his way to her throat.

“The kids could come in here...oh, that’s...Giles!” She put her hands on his chest and pushed herself back. “Really...the kids could - ”

“If I hadn’t thought of that, I’d already be inside of you.” He interrupted, pulling her left hand from his chest and placing a warm kiss on the palm. “Would you like me to patrol with you tonight?”

Her brow furrowed at the oddly timed question. “Well, yeah...and Willow offered to watch the kids. Well, her and Oz...and Maria and Jake.”

“Full house tonight, it seems.” He stated, grazing his teeth across the heel of her palm.

“Huh?” She asked, shuddering as his tongue flicked over the inside of her wrist.

“Ethan volunteered himself and Michael as well.” He whispered, pulling her right hand from his chest and repeating the soft kisses and grazes. “Maybe we should call Xander and Anya...make it a full family affair?”

“They’re busy...taking the girls to...” She inhaled sharply as he met her eyes, not bothering to hide his lust for her. “Uh...Halfrek’s sister’s cousin’s wedding...or something. Giles...we really need to stop now...”

He licked his lips and gave her a nod. “As long as you know that I really don’t want to right now.”

She smiled and leaned down to brush her lips across his. “I think that’s pretty apparent.”

“I love you, Buffy.” He whispered, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

She sat back on his thighs and smiled adoringly at him. “I love you too. And...I really don’t want to stop either, you know?”

He glanced at her lips as his fingers traced the pale scar on her neck. “We...could make each other come quickly...”

She shivered at the contact, her fingers gripping his shoulders. “Is that what you want? To come fast? Here on the couch?”

“I want to come.” He stared into her eyes and swallowed hard. “Where and how quickly are only determined by the fact that we have three young children who could possibly come in here at any given moment. And still...I want to come. With you, if not in you.”

“Giles...”

He smiled as her voice trembled. “And you want to come as well.”

“Not here.” She shook her head, glancing over her shoulder. “We can’t...”

He took a deep breath and moved his hands to her hips. He offered her a gentle smile when she quickly turned back to him as he shifted her from his lap.

“You’re right. We can’t...” He gave her a tender kiss, caressing her cheek with his fingers. “We’ll just have to make the most of tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yeah...” She licked her lips and sighed, fighting the urge to climb right back on top of him. “Are you upset with me?”

He chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Not in the least. But, I do think I’m going to have to take a cold shower.”

“Giles, I - ”

He interrupted her quickly with a kiss, pulling away before he lost control once more. “I won’t be long.”

After another quick kiss, he pushed himself up...carefully adjusting his erection in his jeans as he gave her a smile. “We could always stop off somewhere before we come home in the morning...if you want.”

She returned his smile as she curled into the corner of the couch. “Sounds good...”

Hearing a crash come from Evan’s room, Giles grimaced. Buffy sighed heavily and waved him off.

“Go on...I’ll see what they’ve done.”

He thought once about checking on them himself, but thought better of it when she gave him a very pointed look. Instead, he gave her a broad smile and a nod before slipping down the hall and into their bedroom.

With another shake of her head, she stood up and started down the hall...wondering just what she’d find when she got to Evan’s room.

* * *

Braden grinned as he looked into Evan’s bedroom. “Hey, Mum...we’re home.”

Buffy looked over her shoulder at him as she picked up a large shard of glass from the lamp that had shattered on the floor. “Did you two have fun?”

Lucas nodded as he stepped into the room and surveyed the damage. “Yeah...what happened in here?”

Buffy snorted and gestured to the bed...where three children were sitting quietly. Haddie was leaning against the pillows, a book in her hand and Declan on her lap. Evan was sitting cross-legged, back against the wall and arms crossed over his chest. Callie was sitting next to Evan with her chin on his shoulder and Zephyr was asleep...his head resting on Callie’s foot.

“Declan knocked the lamp off the table.” Evan supplied with a heavy sigh. “I liked that lamp...”

“Well, Dec wouldn’t have knocked the lamp off the table if you hadn’t put his bear behind it.” Haddie reasoned, flipping the page of the book and smiling as Declan barked at the picture of the dog.

Braden chuckled and knelt next to his mother. “Need some help?”

“Oh, I’ve gotten the worst of it up...thanks, though.” She smiled as Braden held the trashbag open for her. “How’s Jason doing?”

Braden sighed and shrugged a shoulder. “He misses Matt. I just...can’t believe that his father kicked him out of the house.”

“Well...” Buffy started quietly, looking into her eldest child’s bright green eyes. “Sometimes, things are hard for families to deal with...and not all families deal with the same problems the same ways...”

“Is that your way of saying that you and Dad wouldn’t kick us out?” Braden asked, dropping his voice to a near whisper as Lucas climbed onto the bed and nudged Evan with his shoulder.

Buffy furrowed her brow. “Well, no...that’s not what I was trying to say. I mean...we wouldn’t. I can’t think of anything that would cause us to do something like that. Braden...”

“Not me.” He whispered, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Where’s Dad?”

“In the shower...” She tilted her head slightly, looking for further information.

Braden shook his head lightly and took the trashbag from her, carefully tying it. “Not my story...and I don’t even know if it’s a true story. I don’t even think he knows yet.”

“But, you think so?”

Braden shrugged and sat back on his heels. “Does it matter? Really, in the grand scheme of things...does it matter?”

Buffy shook her head and reached up to run her fingers through his hair. “No, not really...as long as you all are happy...that’s all your father and I have ever wanted for each of you.”

“You patrolling tonight?” Braden asked, effectively ending the conversation. When she nodded, Braden smiled. “Dad going with you this time?”

“Yeah, but...Willow, Oz, Ethan, and Michael are coming over.” Buffy stated softly, glancing at the four younger children on the bed.

Evan giggled as Lucas tickled his ribs, Haddie and Declan giggling as they watched the boys play together. Buffy turned her eyes back to Braden and smiled lovingly.

“How did you get to be so sweet?”

Braden blushed and rubbed the back of his neck in a gesture very reminiscent of his father. “Stop it, Mum...”

Buffy chuckled and stood up, ruffling his hair. “I need to go run your father out of the shower so I can have one...”

Braden nodded and tilted his head towards the bed. “We’ll go out back with Callie and Zephyr...not much they can break out there if they’re running around. Tell Dad to come out and play with us, okay?”

Buffy nodded in response, wondering when her little boy had turned into a young man. She sighed as she stepped into the hall.

Their children were growing up so quickly. Proof that time stood still for no one...as much as they’d want otherwise. She smiled as Braden jumped onto the bed with the others, giggling maniacally.

Maybe their eldest still had childish tendencies after all.

* * *

Giles grinned widely as the shower door opened and Buffy slipped in. “I thought I was going to run out of hot water before you made an appearance.”

She raised an eyebrow and moved into his arms. “Were you that sure that I was going to join you?”

“More hopeful than sure...” He whispered, running his fingers down the side of her cheek as he lowered his mouth to hers.

When her reaction wasn’t exactly what he had expected, he pulled back and brushed her wet hair back from her face. “What is it, love?”

“Nothing...” She answered quickly, sighing when she realized by the look in his eyes that she’d answered too quickly. “Can you just...hold me?”

“Talk to me.” He whispered, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her against his chest. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

She shook her head and placed a kiss on his chest. “Can we talk later? I promise, I’ll tell you...just...just not now.”

“Alright.” He gave a soft sigh of resignation, knowing that she was determined not to discuss whatever was bothering her. At least, not right now. “What can I do?”

“I don’t know.” She whispered, lifting her head to look up at him. “Do you still want me?”

He glanced at her lips, nodding before his words were fully formed. “Always, Buffy. But...”

“Not here, not now?” She asked in a voice barely audible over the water, lifting her arms and wrapping them around his neck.

“Not like this.” He licked his lips and rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip. He gasped as she rocked her body against his. “Of course, if you keep that up...I’m liable to change my mind.”

She smiled, pressing a kiss to the pad of his thumb as she felt his erection swell against her abdomen. “Do you still need to come?”

“Want...” He corrected gently, sliding his hands down to her hips to still her motion. “And yes, I still want to come...obviously.”

“Me too.” She whispered before pulling his head down and latching her mouth onto the pale scar on his neck.

“Fuck...” He hissed, turning their bodies and pressing her against the warm shower tiles. “Christ, Buffy...”

She felt his fingers dig into her hip as she raked her teeth over the sensitive skin. When he pressed his thigh between her legs, she bit down on the scar...smiling inwardly as he moaned and shuddered against her.

And then the fingers of his left hand glided through her folds, wet from more than the hot water of the shower. She sucked harder at the flesh between her teeth as he pushed two fingers inside of her. Her moan rumbled in her chest as she heard his voice, thick with desire, urging her on...begging her to make him come.

As his thumb pressed against her clit, he felt her inner walls quiver around his fingers. He rocked his hips, rubbing the underside of his erection against her stomach.

“God...touch me, Buffy...please...” He panted, twisting his fingers within her and stroking the slightly rough patch of flesh inside that was guaranteed to make her scream in pleasure.

“That’s it, love...” He groaned as her fingers wrapped around his thickening shaft. “Fuck...come with me, Buffy...”

“Mm-hm...” She murmured, biting the ridge of his scar harder as she stroked his cock in the same rhythm that his fingers were thrusting inside of her.

Giles tilted his head back, biting his lip as the movement pulled Buffy’s mouth from his neck. Their eyes met and Giles smiled as his thumb rubbed small circles against her clit. Just as she began to convulse around his fingers, he covered her mouth with his and thrust his tongue into her mouth.

They swallowed one another’s cries as they came, Buffy flooding his fingers and Giles coating her abdomen and hand.

She trembled as his fingers slipped from her...sliding to her hip as his kiss softened, his tongue lightly stroking hers as he pulled her under the warm spray of water. Her fingers combed through his wet hair as their kiss came to a natural end.

She offered him a shy smile as he reached behind her to shut the water off. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” He chuckled, bending to kiss her lips softly. “And furthermore, I don’t want you to be.”

“But...” She furrowed her brow as he opened the shower door and stepped out onto the blue bathmat. “You said... ‘not like this’...”

“Mm...so I did.” He smiled, grabbing a towel from the rack and wrapping it around her. “Still wanted us to come though. And to be very honest, it would’ve been more dangerous had we not.”

“Huh?” She asked, taking over the task of drying her body as she watched him start to dry himself.

“Both of us that...tense? I can’t imagine either of us really concentrating on patrol instead of each other...” He replied with a grin and a wink.

Buffy rolled her eyes, but smiled just the same.

He could always make her smile.

Chapter Four

“Oh, did Oz talk to you about his bracelet?” Buffy asked, wiping vampire dust from her hands as she stepped out of the alley.

“He did.” Giles smiled as he gestured down the darkened lane. “Why has it taken you nearly twenty years to adhere to my instruction of ‘plunge and move on’?”

She grinned at him, allowing her eyes to wander down to his beltline before returning to his eyes. “I have ulterior motives.”

Giles laughed and shook his head in amusement. “Of course, you do…”

“Did you fix it?”

“Hm? Fix what?” He asked, casually wiping a speck of dust from her cheek.

“Oz’s bracelet. He was really worried about one of the beads being lose or something…”

“Oh, that. Yes, it was nothing that a strip of leather wouldn’t fix. To be honest, as rough as Jake can be, I’m surprised that Oz hasn’t had to replace the leather and beads altogether.”

Buffy tilted her head and furrowed her brow slightly. “What would happen if the bracelet did break? I mean…would you have to call your friend back?”

Giles smiled and shook his head. “No, I have everything that’s needed for an immediate replacement. Along with the incantations to strengthen the beads…if that ever becomes a problem.”

“That could’ve been a problem? Weak beads?”

“I suppose it could have been. But, Oz is naturally strong…spiritually. This is something that he wanted desperately. And he’s worked so very hard to maintain control over that aspect of himself.”

When Buffy grinned, he raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”

“You just sound so…paternal…over him. It’s kinda cute.” When Giles rolled his eyes, she laughed and changed the subject as best as she could. “So…this demon…”

Giles kicked an empty can before picking it up and tossing it into the nearest bin. “I’m fairly certain it’s an Adisser. But, it’s the Ripper-like qualities that are more fascinating.”

Buffy arched an eyebrow at him. “Ripper-like?”

He shook his head, smiling softly as he shoved his right hand into his pocket. “As in ‘Jack the’ and not me.”

“Too bad…” She grinned as he looked at her expectantly. “It could be kinda fun hunting down a demon that’s emulating your bad habits as a thug in his early 20s.”

“Fun?” He narrowed his eyes slightly and licked his lips. “Oh, love…I daresay you wouldn’t have found me very fun. But, I would’ve loved giving you a go to see how long you’d hang around.”

“Oh?” She laughed, slipping her arm through his. “And what if I’d surprised you and refused to leave?”

“We’ll never know, will we?” He cleared his throat and surveyed their surroundings. “The Adisser is fairly vicious…preferring to kill rather than taunt. Mutilation is always present in some respect. This one seems to be quite enamoured of…abdominal mutilation. Especially of…prostitutes. I’m not really sure why…but, a few of the clues are pointing towards the demon attempting to, um…well…breed.”

“Ew…”

“Yes, quite.” He watched as she twirled a stake in her right hand. “No sightings or deaths have occurred in the last thirty-six hours. It very well may have moved on from Whitechapel.”

“Been a while since we’ve been in Whitechapel…” She mused in a tone that made him wonder if she was even aware that she had spoken aloud.

“No need to come to Whitechapel. Not the best of neighbourhoods…not the worst, by a longshot, but…” He shrugged a shoulder when she looked up at him. “I guess it still holds bad memories for me.”

“Yeah, I get that.” She looked around and then pulled his hand out of his pocket. She smiled up at him as she laced their fingers together. “What do you say…one more round and then we find a nice secluded spot on the way home?”

“Why were you so upset earlier?” He whispered, looking into her eyes with concern showing clearly in his.

“Um…you get that I was trying to start a seduction, right?”

“You can seduce me at any time, you know this. You don’t even have to try…you know this as well.” He sighed and lifted his hand to comb his fingers through her hair. “It’s just…you looked so worried and there was nothing I could do.”

“You did something…” Buffy offered with a small smile. “But, I know that’s not what you mean. I kinda distracted you then, didn’t I?”

“Mm…much like your attempt to distract me now. Which isn’t going to work, by the way.”

She inhaled deeply and then exhaled slowly, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze. “Okay…we could always find a nice secluded spot on the way home to…talk about what had me so upset.”

When he gave her a soft nod, she continued quickly.

“Not that I was…or am…really, really upset about anything. It’s just…well, it’s more like concern and sometimes that can come across as being upset. But, I’m not. Upset, I mean…”

“Buffy?”

“Braden thinks that Lucas might be gay.” She blurted.

“I’m sorry?” Giles asked after a moment. “You and Braden were discussing Lucas’ sexuality? He’s not even ten years old, Buffy…”

“I know, Giles. I know how old our children are.”

“Did you say anything to Lucas?”

“What? No…what…” She paused for a moment and really looked at him. “You’re not surprised…”

“Of course I’m not surprised. But, I’m also not going to put the thought into his head.” Giles sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. “Has Braden said anything to him?”

“No, no…I don’t think so. He’s just…” Buffy’s eyes glistened as she shook her head. “After what happened with Matt…Jason’s brother…he was just curious. Or concerned…”

“He wondered if we’d kick his brother out of the house over his sexual preference?” It was Giles’ turn to fight back tears at that thought. “Have we not made it absolutely clear that all we want is for them to be happy? I…it would never occur to me to…does he not realize that?”

“He does…it’s just that he’s seen what it can do to a family. Jason’s his best friend, Giles.”

Giles looked away, biting his bottom lip as his mind raced. “The only unconditional love I truly believe in is the love a parent has for his child. There is nothing that any of those children could do that would make me not love them. Nothing.”

“I know…they know, Giles. He’s just being a protective brother.”

Giles looked at her quickly. “You were upset…”

“Not about the thought of one of our children being gay. If he is or if he isn’t, I don’t care. As long as he’s happy.”

“Buffy…”

“It’s just…I remember what it was like in high school. How cruel kids can be…” She shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek. “I just don’t want kids being cruel to our son. That’s what upsets me.”

“Should we talk to him?” Giles continued quickly when Buffy’s eyes widened. “I mean…make it more about Matt and Jason…and their family. So that they both know that no matter what…we love them and they’ll always have a home.”

“Oh…oh, okay…” She nodded slowly and offered him a small smile. “Yeah…I think that would do them both a world of good. You know…a lot of fathers would have…issues…with just the thought of their son being gay.”

“I’m not ‘a lot of fathers’. And I’m hardly one to throw stones, am I?”

“Well, no…”

“And they’ve all grown up knowing that any love is acceptable…as long as it doesn’t hurt.” Giles stated softly.

Buffy nodded slowly. “A witch and a werewolf, an ex-demon and Xander, Ethan and Michael…”

“And a Watcher and the Slayer.”

“The Watcher.” Buffy corrected with a smile, as usual when he slipped and used ‘a’ instead of ‘the’. “He’ll be okay, right?”

Giles leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. “I honestly believe so, Buffy. He has so many people who will be willing to stand up for him…and who would do so without any hesitation or questions.”

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and slid her arms around him. “Still interested in finding a secluded spot somewhere?”

Giles shook his head as he ran his left hand along her spine. “I think…I’d rather go home. Watch our children sleep…have a laugh with our friends…maybe make love to you in our bed once they’ve gone home.”

“Maybe?” She asked, pulling back just enough to look up at him. “Just maybe?”

“The raw need is gone…” He swallowed thickly and slid his fingers into her belt loops. “Fucking one another in the back of the car on some abandoned road isn’t what I want…or need.”

“I get that…but, you said ‘maybe make love’…” She clarified, sliding her hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders. “I’d go for leaving the ‘maybe’ out and throwing in a ‘definitely’…”

He tugged her closer, not caring if anyone wandering along the streets of Whitechapel was watching them. He kissed her slowly, sliding his left hand to the back of her head when he moved his lips to her ear.

“Definitely, Buffy. By candlelight…the thick red candles, the ones we picked up at that little market in the country a while back? They’re so very beautiful…even more so when they’re casting a warm glow over your glistening body as you writhe beneath me.”

She trembled in his arms, reaching up to lightly flick his earring as she inhaled deeply.

“Writhe, huh?”

“Mm-hm…I love watching you writhe. My arms hooked under your knees…your head thrashing against the pillow as your back arches…the thick, warm - ”

She cut him off with a kiss, pushing her tongue into his mouth as her fingers curled in the fabric of his jacket. He didn’t stop her for a long few moments…not until he felt the groan rumble in her chest.

He pulled back and grinned as they both panted heavily in an effort to gain control over their breathing. He curled a strand of her hair around his finger and licked his tingling lips.

“I meant to ask you…”

“Ask me what?”

“Do you have plans for Tuesday?”

She laughed softly as she shook her head. “Not yet…I was waiting for an offer though…”

He trailed his fingertips down her cheek and sighed. “Pencil me in?”

“Oh…you’re in permanent marker, babe…”

“Am I?” He asked, eyes bright.

She nodded happily and took a step back, slipping her hand into his. “One more time ‘round the block…then we head home, okay?”

“Very well.” He answered with a warm smile, more than content to allow her to lead him back down the street.

Once more…round the block. And then home.

To their children, their friends…their family.

Giles squeezed her fingers lightly and fought the urge to pull her into another kiss.

There’d be plenty of time for that…and much more…later.

~ End