I can see where it takes a few to get into his mindset. He's just overwhelmed. How do you deal with something so huge, where the outcome is more than you could've possibly hoped for?

Yeah, I struggled with the fall, because on the surface Giles is the strongest of the Scoobies. He just keeps going. But underneath, there are so many cracks in his armour. And just how much more can he really take before he just has to stop? And that's where he is.

But the moment he sees Buffy, he can function again, because that's his role, that's how he defines himself. He's there for her. He doesn't want her to worry and he wants her to celebrate her moment. So he picks himself back up and shrugs it off.

That's Giles. And thanks for the comment. :)