TITLE: Moving On
AUTHOR: Donut
EMAIL: dladygiles@aol.com
RATING: G
DISTRIBUTION: LJ. Others please ask first.
SPOILERS: Blood Ties
FEEDBACK: Love it. Especially if you like the story!!!!!
SUMMARY: Giles and Joyce talk on Buffy's 20th birthday
DISCLAIMER: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and all those
other guys who don't appreciate the beauty of age!
DEDICATION: Many thanks to Sandy (milk) for her great input and suggestions
and the title, much appreciate it my friend!
NOTES: This is in answer to LJ's "Blood Ties" challenge...what were Giles
and Joyce talking about at Buffy's birthday? It is strictly dialogue!


"Thank you for inviting me, Joyce. I really appreciate being included in
Buffy's birthday gathering."

"Thank you for coming, Rupert. I know how much it means to her to have her
friends here. The last while has been very trying on all of us."

"Yes, well, I hope that this birthday is quite different from the others in
the past few years."

"I'm sure tonight will be a very pleasant and quiet celebration. Which would
be very welcome after everthing that we've all been through lately."

"Yes..well, tense would be quite an understatement. How are you doing,
Joyce? I mean aside from the surgery, how are you dealing with Dawn?"

"Oh, Rupert, I don't know what I'm feeling honestly. She is my baby girl but
she's not. I'm so confused, but I'm trying not to treat her any differently.
It's so hard!"

"Joyce, if there's anything at all I can do, please don't hesitate to ask.
I'm here for you. Oh, and Dawn and Buffy as well, of course."

"Thank you, Rupert. I'm just very glad that you're here. It's nice having
another adult to talk to."

"I can understand that. I'm surrounded by the children all the time and it's
a very pleasant change to talk to you as well."

"Well, I haven't been very pleasant to you in the past...the summer that
Buffy ran away comes to mind."

"Joyce, please, that's all in the past. But..um...I would like to apologize
for my appalling behaviour whilst under the influence of that dreadful
chocolate. It was very wrong of me to take advantage of you like that."

"Rupert, we were both there remember! I didn't exactly push you away. As a
matter of fact, I remember quite clearly practically throwing myself at you.
But I can't believe that I compared you to Burt Reynolds. You're nothing
like him at all. He's rougher and much more masculine. Oh my heavens, I'm
sorry...I didn't mean it that way. I'm not putting this very well. I just
meant that you are so considerate and gentle...a gentleman. And you are very
masculine, there's no question about that. You proved that that night. Do
you think your hellmouth could open up right now and swallow me before I
finish swallowing my foot?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Joyce, it's alright. I understand what you
mean, but I'm a little embarrassed at all the compliments. I never thought
you would feel that way. Do you think we could...perhaps...well, that
is...would you have dinner with me some time? I think we should talk where
we don't have to worry about prying ears listening in."

"Yes, I would like that very much. It's very hard to talk with the kids
around. By the way, did you notice where Dawn went? OH MY GOD! DAWN!!!!!
Rupert, the blood, look at all the blood. She's cut herself! My baby! My
baby!"