Giles
After Dru's first restless night back in the mortal world, it was decided that she needed some time. So Giles offered the spare room for the kittens, and the kittens were eager to visit with Auntie Priss and Uncle Rupert for a few days. They love how Giles spoiled them, and the loved their Auntie Priss. The kittens pounced on Giles when Sabre dropped them off.
"Uncle Rupert! Uncle Rupert!" the children cried. Giles grinned, and looked at his beloved.
"I'll take the children inside, and let you t alk to your brother for a while." He let the kittens inside. The four children immediately ran to the bookshelves, each grabbing a book or two.
"Uncle Rupert, Uncle Rupert, is this was real or fiction?" Cassie asked, holding a book about Camelot.
"Well, Cassiopeia, it's fiction based in truth. Some of it is real, and some of it isn't."
"Uncle Rupert,Uncle Rupert," Percy asked, holding a book about the Salem Witch Trials, "Did they ever kill real witches?"
"Well," Giles said slowly. "Melinda Warren was a real witch, but she chose to hang. She decided that if she used her magic to escape, her daughter would be condemned. But as far as I know, she was the only true witch accused, and she was accused by a warlock." Percy nodded.
"Is it bad to be a witch now? 'Cause Auntie Hapi said I was born one. Mummy says I'm a natural witch."
"Absolutely not," Giles insisted. "Trust me, Persius, you have ansolutely nothing to be afraid of."
"Otay," Percy said, shifting into kitten, and curling up in Giles' lap. Rupert looked these children over. They already looked at least 8 years old. He wondered if his own child would mature so quickly.
Sabre and Priss
Sabre put his arm around Priss's shoulder and she leant up and kissed him on the cheek.
"To Avalon, fair knight, to Avalon thou must go. No rest nor succor may thou take. To Avalon, fair knight, to Avalon where Arthur doth dwell," Priss said.
"You're being smart again," Sabre said.
"Am I not allowed to be? Rupert likes it when I'm smart."
Priss pouted prettily.
"How was Avalon?"
"Mab was a bitch, Isobolde jumped me, and I couldna find Keltie."
"Interesting sounding...what, you couldn't find her?"
"Neither hide nor hair of the little nygel is to be found."
"Well, that's just going to make things difficult..."
"She'll turn up."
"She better, she owes us a debt and is bitterbound."
"Pssh, and you're so manipulative when it suits your mind."
"As ever I am a cat, dearest brother."
Drusilla and Giles
Dru wandered around, dizzily, and went inside. When she saw Giles, she started to cry.
"I hurt you," she said, weeping. "I made you bleed, and I got behind your eyes and pushed stuff out, made you think I was her. Oh, I deserve to burn for all eternity!" Giles went over to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Dru, look at me," he said, gently. She looked at his face.
"I've already forgiven you, and Angel, though it's taken some time. Yes, Jenny was dear to my heart, and it truly hurt at the time, but it's over and past. WHat's done is done and cannot be undone, but everything happens for a reason."
"You--you--you don't hate me?"
"I hate the demon who was in you at the time, but Drusilla, the person, don't hate her at all." Dru smiled a little through her tears.
Sabre and Priss
"He's sweet," Sabre commented to his sister.
She smiled.
"I know."
"No probs?"
"Nary a whisper."
"Still no Keltie."
"I'm going to hunt that horse and make her wish rope hadn't been invented."
"So bloodthirsty."
"It's the mother in me."
Giles
"Unca Giles, sing us a song?" Percy asked. Giles sighed and grabbed his guitar.
"But what should I sing?"
"Sing the song you sang to Buffy, when the dancing demon guy came." Giles smiled sadly.
"All right."
"You're not ready for the world outside
You keep pretending, but you just can't hide
I know I said that I'd be standing by your side
But I. . .
Your path's unbeaten, and it's all uphill
And you can meet it, but you never will
And I'm the reason that you're standing still
But I. . .
I wish I could say the right words
To lead you through this land
Wish I could play the father
ANd take you by the hand
Wish I could stay
But now I understand
I'm standing in the way
The cries around you, you don't hear at all
'Cause you know I'm here to take that call
So you just lie there,
When you should be standing tall
But I. . .
I wish I could lay your arms down
ANd let you rest at last
Wish I could slay your demons
But now that time has passed
Wish I could stay
Your stalwart standing fast
But I'm standing in the way
I'm just standing in the way."
The kittens all applauded happily.
Sabre
Sabre clapped absentmindedly.
"Mmmhmm. We have other problems too."
"Nyx is fixing that."
"Mmm. I think something is hunting out there."
"When isn't there?"
Giles
Giles helped the children get settled into the guestroom, and was watching them mentally devour his personal library. Only a few months old, and they were reading volumes he'd never tackled until university.
Sabre and Priss
Sabre settled with his children and Priss pressed an affectionate kiss to his forehead.
"Don't fret so, beloved brother."
"Yeah, well..."
Priss stroked his hair and then turned to Giles.
"Shall we to bed, love?"
Giles
Giles eyes the distraught Drusilla.
"Yes, my dear, I am very tired."
Priss.
Priss leant up and kissed him gently.
"Sabre will make sure she comes to no harm."
Giles and Drusilla
"All right. Let's go to bed," Giles said, with a wicked twinkle in his eye. "But not to sleep."
~*~*~*~
Drusilla laid her head on Sabre's shoulder.
"Do you hate me, my love? I can't even care for my own children."
Priss & Sabre.
Priss chuckled softly, and kissed him again.
"As you say, my love."
~*~*~*~
"I don't hate you, Dru," Sabre sighed.
He stroked her hair softly.
Giles
Giles kissed Priss hard, slipping his hands under her clothes.
"I love you, you beautiful woman."
Priss
"And I lovest thee, my dearest heart," Priss said softly.