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In the end, it was just the two of them. Alone.
Perhaps it should always have been this way.
“Buffy,” he whispered, barely enough breath to get the words out. She sat beside his bed, holding his hand.
“Shh, Giles. You don't have to talk. Just breathe.” Just keep breathing, she begged in the silence of her own thoughts. Just a little longer.
He gave her a small, sad smile and shook his head. His hair on the pillow was fully grey, limp and brittle as his body fought a loosing battle with something so simple and yet so complex as a virus.
“Don't argue with me, my dear girl. There's… there's not much time left.” She could only nod, biting her lip to keep her silent pleas to herself. “I want you to remember,” he paused for a gasping, shallow breath. “From the very first, you have always been my miracle. Whatever your battles. No matter whether you lived or died and came back to us. My miracle. My darling girl.” His eyes met hers, blue to hazel, and his gaze was full of love. It had always been there, all through the nearly 40 years she'd been the Slayer.
“I know,” she told him gently. “Are you… ready?” He nodded, grateful for her acceptance in the face of more grief and loss in her life. “Then let go, Giles. It's okay. We'll take care of each other.”
“I know. I trust you.”
She gave him a smile, one that shone from her eyes despite the growing sadness. “I love you, Watcher-mine. Give… give mom our love. And… hopefully we'll meet you there, when our time comes.”
“You will,” he whispered reassuringly. “I love you, too, my girl.” His eyes closed as he slipped into sleep.
After several minutes, when she was sure he was deeply asleep, she got up to open the door. The Scoobies slowly joined her; first Dawn, then Xander. Willow's light steps arrived a few minutes later.
And then others. Slayers. Watchers. Friends. Dawn's husband. Willow’s girlfriend. Buffy's partner. Gentle hands and hugs, support being given and taken in the quiet vigil.
Giles passed from life, surrounded by people who loved him. By the many, many children who had, or still did, look to him as mentor and head Watcher.
By the children he'd loved as his own.
And his first Slayer, the girl who had always been his own personal miracle.