Mrs. Giles

Thanks to Blazing Fire and MarzBar (thanks so much for the support of nearly all my fics! I will be updating the others hopefully tonight, well, at least one...)

"So, you've got a name for the Bit yet?" Spike asked as he coaxed the baby to grip his index finger.

"Actually, umm, I was thinking of the name Dawn." Buffy said.

"Mm hmm." Spike said.

"What? What's wrong with Dawn?" Buffy asked.

"It's just that... Dawn Giles? Sounds bloody boring if you ask me." I didn't Buffy thought to herself. Instead, she opted to glare at him.

"Well, how about Glory?" Giles asked. The look on his son's face said it all.

"Dad, I mean really. Haven't you done enough damage already when you named my brother Randy?" Spike asked. Giles gave him an irritated look before responding.

"Do you have something better then?" Giles questioned.

"How bout Faith?" Buffy and Giles looked at each other, then at Spike.

"It does kind of have a ring to it. Faith Giles." Buffy admitted. Spike gave them both a smug look.

"Well, you are the mother, your decision after all. You should probably sleep on it." Spike said as he began to walk away. A blond haired woman in a maid's uniform began to descend the stairs.

"Yes, well, we were merely suggesting. Oh, Tara will show you to your room. I hope you find it comfortable. And thank you for keeping this one safe." Giles said as he handed her back the baby and exited the same way as Spike.

"Hi, I'm Bu- um. Drusilla. Sorry, it's been a long day." Buffy said as she extended her hand to the young woman. Tara gave her a little smile before showing Buffy the way to her new room.

"Wow." Buffy said just above a whisper as she eyed the room. The place was so huge. It was like two large rooms put together. On one side was for the baby. Buffy called it "Nursery City" in her mind. It appeared as if the Giles' had cleared out some Baby's R Us store. On the other side was her bed and dressers and such. It was quite eloquent.

"Your suit cases will be brought up shortly." Tara said before she exited the room. Buffy went over to the hoard of little stuffed animals and picked up a cute little stuffed pig and showed it to the baby.

"Pretty nice, huh? I mean, it's no real harm in staying here, right? Do you think mommy could go to prison for this?" She gave an exasperated sigh as she thought things over again.

"I just want the best for you, is all. You understand, don't you sweetheart?"

**************

"It's just that... where could they've possibly met? Randy probably just felt sorry for the lass for knockin' her up, marrying her on the spot. Right gentleman he was. But doesn't she seem kind of white trash to you?" Spike asked as he slowly paced back in forth in the study, sipping some brandy from his snifter glass. "She hardly seems our class."

"My, my, William. How can you be so, so discriminatory?" Giles asked as he poured himself a scotch. "And stop that bloody pacing." Spike stopped pacing and looked his father in the eyes.

"What, father? You think I've prejudged her?"

"I don't understand. Who raised you to be such a bigot?" Giles asked, incredulous.

"Hmm. Good question. Let's ask the servants." Giles ignored the remark and continued to defend his son's widow.

"Look, I don't care what class, religion, whatever she is. She was Randy's wife, and I'm going to do all that I can to help and protect her. She is the mother of my only grandchild, and she is staying right here. You don't have to like her, but you will treat her with respect. Is that clear, William?" Giles said in his serious tone. Spike gave him a look, but nodded his agreement.

"I should also mention that I want you here for dinner tonight." Giles said.

"What? Why?"

"It's Drusilla's first night here, and I want us to sit there as a family. Besides, Willow and Xander will- "

"Wait just one second. You tellin' me you invited the whelp?" Spike asked, highly upset.

"What, he was Randy's best friend, and one of yours- "

"Bloody rot. You know I hate the wanker!"

"So what. I still want you to be here."

"Oh no. I don't think so. We are not discussing this." Spike said as he threw up his hands in mock protest.

"Yes we bloody well are!" Giles composed himself before continuing. "I want you there, and I want us to all be amicable to one another, even if we have to fake it."

"Yea? Better tell Harris this lil' tidbit of info, too."

"I just want Drusilla to feel apart of the family. Come on, if not for her, then do it for your old man, eh?" Giles said with kind eyes. Spike rolled his eyes in turn.

"Oh, fine. But I'm doin' it for her. She may not be like us, but then again, maybe that's not such a bad thing after all."


Dinnertime

It appeared to Buffy that her baby had gained about ten additional pounds in the carrier as she wandered around the house attempting to find the dinner hall. Tremendous relief washed over her when she finally found it. She took note of the brown haired man and red headed woman sitting across from Spike with Giles at the head of the table. She took the empty seat next to Spike and placed the carrier in the vacant chair next to her.

"Sorry I took so long. I got lost." The dark haired man politely laughed, but then realised that she was serious.

"Oh, well, lots of rooms and hallways can do that to you. I'm Xander Harris, by the way." He said. Buffy reached across the table to shake his hand as everyone looked at her strangely.

"Hi. Drusilla Giles." She said. Then she extended her hand to the red head. She looked at her in surprise before grasping her hand.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Willow Rosenberg." She said with a smile.

"Yes, um, well these were Randy's two best friends." Giles said.

"Yeah, the three of us were pretty much inseperable." Willow added. Buffy noticed that Spike looked at none of them.

"Yes well, Dru- you don't mind if I call you Dru, do you?" Spike asked.

"No, sure go ahead." Buffy replied.

"Where exactly in London did you and my brother meet?" He asked in a purely curious tone. He pretty much just wanted to move the conversation away from Randy and his two "best friends."

"Oh, uh, at the mall."

"The mall?" Spike asked incredulous.

"Well yea. They have malls there too, ya know."

"How was the wedding?" Willow asked eagerly.

"Oh, it was really beautiful." When she didn't elaborate, Spike questioned," Care to elaborate, pet?"

"It was at night under the stars. But I'd prefer to not talk about it." She said looking away from him. Spike gave her a what appeared to be a concerned look and backed off.

"How'd you fall in love with him?" Willow asked.

"Oh, it was incredibly easy. I mean, he was the only person I've ever known to be nice without a reason." Buffy began honestly. "His kindness just simply, warmed my heart. He was so spontaneous and generous. So... carefree and full of life. I mean, I know I haven't known him as long as you guys, but-"

"You understood him." Spike said in a low voice. "I always thought I'd have the chance to figure him out, but..."

"Yeah right, Spike. You were always coming down on him. You were too selfish to notice him." Xander said. Buffy saw fire in Spike's eyes. She was certain he was going to curse that Xander guy out, or hit him, or something. Instead he just stood up and left the room. Giles gave Xander a disapproving look before excusing himself.

"I'll be back in a bit." He didn't have to go far as he saw Spike right in the hallway by the dinner hall.

"I told you, I told you. I hate that bastard." Spike whispered to his father.

"Look son, just- " Giles was cut off by Drusilla's loud voice.

"Hey! How dare you say that?" She asked.

"Look, you don't know Spike like I know him." Willow remained quiet, seemingly torn over it all.

"He's grieving. And his personal relationship with his brother is not any of our business." Buffy countered.

"Yeah, right. Look, you seem like a nice, reasonable person. Once you get to know Spike, you'll get to see him as the cold, soulless fiend that he is." Xander said.

"Xander, really- " Willow started.

"God, you're disgusting! How can you just talk about him like this in his own home? He may be somewhat of an asshole, but he's doing it within his own right. That was his brother and this is his house, and all of us should respect that. I'm sure Randy would not approve of your treatment of his brother. You are totally disrespecting the memory of Randy's kindness towards others." Just then, the baby woke up from all of the commotion.

"Oh! I'm just gonna, go now. Tell someone to send me up a plate." She said as she picked up the carrier and headed out of the room. She saw the look of awe on Giles' face and appreciation on Spike's and simply muttered, " Well, I know I was rude, but he was rude first." and continued on to her room. Spike looked at his father for a moment before saying, " I bloody like her."