Happy Birthday to my Susi-Q!

[stoney321]

Also known as beadtific. I've even hugged her in person. And ate eggs! And drank champagne! She is my pretend Margo, and she knows just what that means and why she is a special friend to me. Not short bus special, but huggy, face splitting grin special. This is that Buffy/Giles fic I mentioned, is for you, is not my best, but hopefully you'll like it some. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Title: Forgive and Renew? (I don't really know.)
Rating: PG
Summary: Buffy/Giles, hints at something years after Sunnydale collapses into the earth
Disclaimer: I've never written these two. Oh, I mean, I don't make any money, etc.
Word Count: About 130. Short, yo.



It was several years before she truly forgave him. To be fair, it took him a few to forgive her, as well. The SoCal that was never far from the surface snorted when he told her that, but the adult she was becoming was grateful that he had.

He had been her father, her teacher, her mentor, her fellow soldier. At one point, he had been her enemy and the ache of that never left her bones. Now that the burden of the world was shared among hundreds, thousands, maybe, she no longer needed him to be any of those people anymore. Just him.

She watched him when he was quiet and learned to be still. She watched him as he led and learned how to follow. She watched as he smiled slowly at her and learned how to let go.

No longer did she need to be someone's ideal, someone's notch on their bed, someone's dream girl, someone's redemption. He needed her to just be Buffy, a woman, a warrior, and asked for nothing in return but to allow him to simply love her.

And over time, after forgiveness given and taken, she loved him back.

Comments

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's lovely. Buffy/Giles squicks me when she's still young, but like this, growing up, seeing how it shifts from trust to love, true, uncomplicated love ... this was just perfect.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, Andrea! I wrote this a while ago (when I did that call for fic ideas) and didn't know if it was any good. BUT. When I think of Buffy/Giles, I think of Bead. (And Uberaeryn)

And ditto on the "she needs to be a grownup." *squish*

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

That's really lovely. I almost didn't click because I can't wrap my head around B/G, but I read because of you, and you made it work.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

(oh, I know. I have issues with B/G, but have read some good ones.)

Thank you, by the way. This was one of those I wasn't sure about, so I appreciate that!

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

I can really appreciate grown-up Buffy/Giles fic, and you've managed to put a lot into such a small space. This was really lovely.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you SDW! I'm glad it didn't freak you out. I tried to make it non-freaky. :D

*squish*

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

At one point, he had been her enemy and the ache of that never left her bones. That's soooo pretty. Wow. You're a really good writer when you're not being funny.

*runs*

*slows so that you can tackle me*

*wrestles*

*keeps knees away from Clint area*

*loves*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_willferrell/]

Hahahahaha!!

*points to icon*

[dusty273.livejournal.com]

Lovely story. I generally avoid B/G stories, but I really liked yours. Well done, cariño!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Mari! (It's funny how we're all saying that, and yet... *click*)

[dusty273.livejournal.com]

*lol* Maybe we all wanted to give your story a chance? ;)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

♥

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

Very nice. Buffy/Giles is not a pairing I think of in a romantic way, because he's more of a father figure. But she does seem to go for older men...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And technically, Giles is younger than both Spike and Angel, who in turn are younger than The Immortal, so... She must have felt like she was robbing the cradle with Riley!

:D

[paynbow.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that gave me a warm fuzzy *g* I like the way you've tied up the problems Buffy and Giles had in S7 which never got mentioned again, including the time when they were butting heads.

She watched him when he was quiet and learned to be still. She watched him as he led and learned how to follow. She watched as he smiled slowly at her and learned how to let go.

I really like that passage. The gorwn-up Buffy you've painted is someone I could see with Giles (normally the two of them together is a little squicky for me--father figure, and all that).

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks, Heather! I can get behind a grown-up Buffy and Giles. Especially when written by Bead or Uberaeryn.

[paynbow.livejournal.com]

I've read a couple by Uberaeryn. I enjoyed them too...it's definitely something about Buffy being grown up, emotionally as well as physically.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

He needed her to just be Buffy, a woman, a warrior, and asked for nothing in return but to allow him to simply love her.

Buffy would need that from her lover, wouldn't she? I like this theme of forgiveness between the two of them. Really lovely, Laura.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Anne. Part of Season 7 just hurt my heart with those two. In a way, Giles was her last bit of family (I just really don't buy the sisterly love between Buffy/Dawn. It always seemed so manufactured, haha.)

[altyronsmaker.livejournal.com]

That was lovely. Unlike most others, I don't shy away from B/G stories. I think he could have been very good for her.

Your ficlet illustrates that well.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Aww! Icon! I love love love Giles, too.

And thank you so much!

[wolfling]

B/G isn't my preferred Giles pairing, but I can be convinced by the right fics. This convinced me. :)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Awwww!! The Giles icons! Why don't I have one? I need to find one.

And thank you so much!

[sheepfairy.livejournal.com]

This was really beautiful, and it packed a lot of emotion into a short story. And I really like how Giles and Buffy are approaching it as fully realized people, with all their flaws and virtues acknowldged, because I think that's something they both could use.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I'm glad this worked for you. I've never even ATTEMPTED this pairing before.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Awww. . ..

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*beams*

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

How lovely! This really encapsulates what I like so much about this ship. Good read.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! And sorry I'm so behind on comments...

[cordelianne.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful!! I like how you explored the unresolved issues between them from season 7.

She watched him when he was quiet and learned to be still. Lovely!

He needed her to just be Buffy, a woman, a warrior, and asked for nothing in return but to allow him to simply love her. *melts* Definitely what Buffy needs too.

Thank you!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that. Oh, Buffy. *sniffs*

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

HOW ON EARTH DID I MISS THIS AND THANK GOD YOU POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. LIKE ALWAYS.

::scuttles to read::

I'll be your Margo anytime, babeee. ::squishes you::

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. That's simply lovely. And who doesn't need to be loved like that?

::hugs you sweetly and tightly, with a little rocking, 'cause I'm so very very glad you're my friend:: ::sniffles a little::

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmm. Love you, my Susi! Can't wait to hug you at WriterCon!

*beams*

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

Me too, you. EEE!

[violethamster.livejournal.com]

No longer did she need to be someone's ideal, someone's notch on their bed, someone's dream girl, someone's redemption.

Aw, that's lovely. And just what Buffy needs, I think. B/G that doesn't squick me, whoohoo!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you were able to be brave and click! (Did you wear your badge? Does it make you feel strong and capable?)

[tinpanalley.livejournal.com]

That was really nice. Delicate and sweet!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you!