*****

Buffy knocked on her Watcher's door, and took a respectful half step back and waited. Giles opened the door. "Peace be upon you."

"And upon you be peace, oh my Watcher."

"Enter and be my guest."

Buffy gave a slight nod, almost a bow, as she entered and followed Giles' arm as he pointed to the recently steam-cleaned couch.

"Sit and be rested, oh daughter of light!"

"Thank you, Oh my Watcher," Buffy said and sat.

Giles went into the kitchen and spoke briefly to Xander. Giles came back and sat in his armchair facing Buffy.

"It gladdens my heart to see you well, Oh my Watcher."

"And mine to see you, oh my beloved Slayer."

Xander came in and smiled at his friend Buffy, and put a cup in front of her on the coffee table and another in front of Giles, and a plate of cookies in between them. Wordlessly, he went back into the kitchen and returned and poured tea for the two. Giles smiled and nodded his thanks to Xander.

"May you be refreshed," he said to Giles with an informal tone that could only bespeak a certain intimacy. He flashed a grin at Buffy, who smiled and nodded back.

He left the watcher and his slayer to talk.

Buffy raised her cup, "In the name of God."

"The merciful and beneficent," Giles responded and they both sipped.

"And how is your gracious mother?"

"She is well, oh my Watcher, and sends her greetings."

"That gladdens my heart, oh daughter of beauty."

Buffy blushed slightly at the complement to her mother. Although there were some things she wished her Watcher wouldn't refer to, even obliquely.

"Please give my regards to the uhm al-noor."

Buffy startled, 'the mother of dawn?' An odd sobriquet, and one that she had never heard Giles use before. But it wouldn't do to question her Watcher, that wasn't her place. She would ask Xander or Willow. In any case, she knew Giles would tell her when she needed to know.

"I will do so, oh my Watcher," She said taking another sip of tea.

"Eat! and be refreshed," he said waving at the plate of cookies.

"May your table be always filled."

"May you never be hungry."

"Your hospitality overwhelms me, oh father of wisdom."

"It is very simple and poor, Oh daughter of strength."

Buffy took a cookie, and nibbled on it.

Cutting the formalities short, Giles asked, "What causes you to brighten my home with your presence, oh mother of all slayers?"

Buffy blushed appropriately at the complement.

"Stories are being told, Oh father of knowledge, among those who dwell in the places hidden from the light of the sun�"

Giles nodded that she might continue.

"It is said that a dark one is coming." Buffy hesitated. "Perhaps, he whose name is not spoken."

"Far from you!" Giles uttered the ritual phrase to drive away the bad luck that might come from mentioning that which should not be referred to. Slightly upset, the watcher called out, "Xander!"

Xander appeared, teapot in hand. "Yes, oh father of joy," Xander said with a grin, clearly kidding his lover.

Giles scowled at the rascal. "Oh my beloved idiot, bring me the book of Thoth."

"At once, oh father of teaching." And Xander went off to find the volume.

Turning to Buffy, "For in the book of Thoth it is written how the daughter of the first one may deal with the coming of �" Giles trailed off, not mentioning even in passing he who should not be referred to.

"It is only by your wisdom that I am able to serve, oh my Watcher."

end