Disoriented, Giles reached out blindly. His fingers brushed against something, and he let his hand rest there. He knew vaguely that he wasn't in his own bed, and that he wasn't alone, but he was too sleepy and heavy to remember where he was.
Strands of hair brushed against his fingers, and he touched them softly. They were thick and silky, and tickled a little. He drifted back into sleep, only to become aware again when something rolled into him. It layed against him, and he wrapped his arm around the smaller bundle before slipping into unconciousness again.
The sun would not be ignored, and seeing that Giles fully intend to pretend that it didn't exist, it became more insistant, shining brighter and more intensely onto his face until he came to full conciousness.
He knew where he was immediately. Buffy was next him, her back against his chest, snoring softly. One of his arms was under his head, the other around her waist. He tried to slid his arm free from under her without waking her, but she stirred, and stretched out. As he pulled back, she rolled over, bringing them face to face.
"Giles," she murmered as she opened her eyes, squinting against the sunlight. "Morning."
"Uh, morning." Giles suddenly felt nervous and awkward. He reminded himself that this was Buffy he was facing, a girl that he had cared for, trained, and done battle with. But as she stretched again, he could not help but realize that she was no longer a girl.
"Thanks for staying with me last night." She bent her elbow and rested her head on her raised hand. "What an awful dream that was. You know, I can still remember it clearly." She rubbed her eyes with her free hand, still half asleep.
"Well, that's what I'm for. I am your Watcher, after all."
"Would you stop with all that I'm your watcher crap already? It's more than that. You're my friend. You said so yourself."
"Yes, I did." He sat up, wondering how long he would have to make small talk before he could leave. He didn't want to look like he was fleeing, or he was uncomfortable. But her nightshirt inched higher everytime she stretched and he couldn't even look over at her. "And, I am. And I'm glad that I could help you feel better last night."
Buffy sat up and leaned her head on Giles's shoulder. "What do you say, we go have a really decadent breakfast? Eggs, pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, the whole deal. You can have a bottomless cup on English Breakfast Tea and I can have some hot chocolate. We'll be silly."
"I -- " Giles turned his head and found himself nose to nose with Buffy. A feeling that he didn't know was lurking inside him broke free and rushed over him. "I have a lot of work to do." He stood up abruptly.
Buffy frowned, confused. Something had passed between her and Giles, she felt it and knew that he must have, too. But what it was, she couldn't say. She also didn't know why he scurried out of the room, not looking back at her. She sighed, a lonely feeling creeping over her.
* * *
"Xander!" Buffy gave a cry of joy, throwing her arms around the tall boys neck. "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask the same of you." Xander returned the hug, holding her tighter and tighter. "I was surprised to find out you were shacked up with Sunnydale High's most famous librarian."
"Oh, it's nothing like that." She assured him. "I'm just staying here for a while for.. training."
"Ah, still the vampire hunter, I see." Xander's voice sounded funny. In letters or on the phone, it was easy for him to pretend it was all a game. It was harder when Buffy was in the flesh before him. His defenses broke down temporarily and he accepted the truth.
"Like I have a choice. But you're in luck, things have been slow around her recently. Ever since the last uprise, that is."
"Yes, I heard of that from my parents. What is they called it? Sudden gang warfare. Can't say I'm sorry I missed that."
"I can't blame you. Oh, what a horrible hostess I am!" Suddenly remembering her manners, Buffy led her old to the couch. "Sit down, sit down. How's school?"
Xander settled into the new couch, putting his arm around Buffy went she sat next to him, knees tucked under her.
"It's hard. Keeps me very busy. And, the longer I'm in school, the more time before I have to pay my student loans."
They laughed, and Buffy reveled in the company. "I'm so glad you're here." She admitted, looking a little embarrassed. "I've been lonely without you and Willow."
"All these years and you've met no one?"
"Well, I get nervous, you must understand that. I mean, you and Willow were special. How will I find friends that I can confide in again? Besides, for a while Giles, and Angel were enough, but now it's just Giles."
"Ah, the old geezer's not enough for you, huh?"
Buffy found herself unaccountably riled. "Hey! Giles is not an old geezer. He's older than us, sure, but so are a lot of people. Angel was like 200 and something older and I never once heard you use the word geezer when talking about him."
"Yes, I said much worse." Even since Angel's death, Xander could not speak well of him. "Besides, I was joking. I like the old- Giles, that is, myself."
Buffy looked embarrassed by her outburst, but she was saved by the sound of the door opening behind her.
"Giles!" she exclaimed as her roomate entered. "Look who's here."
"Xander," Giles said cooly. He couldn't explain even to himself why he was not happy to see his old friend. He left the room quickly, heading to his bedroom.
"That was odd," Xander remarked.
"He has alot on his mind," Buffy was quick to explain for him. "So, a big night on the town tonight? Hmm? What do you say?"
"I say, how could I resist my favorite bloodsucker vanquisher?"
* * *
Giles stared darkly into his drink, wondering how he ever let Buffy talk into coming to The Bronze. Even Buffy and Xander seemed slightly out of place with the decidely younger crowd that overran the club. But as always, when they got together, they relived their younger days. Giles thought that midlife crises usually brought on that particular urge, and the two youngsters had some time yet until that happened.
He caught a glimpse of them on the dance floor. A slow song was on, and Xander took Buffy into his arms. He whispered something to her and she laughed. Xander laughed too, and then lean towards her again. Something cold hit Giles's leg and he realized that he had knocked his drink over. "Damn," he muttered, dabbing at it with napkins off the table
He glanced back in the direction of the couple, but the crowd had swallowed them up. He took a deep breath, and walked through the mass of wiggling teenagers until he spotted them. They were laughing again, and Xander seemed awfully close to her. A wave of jealousy caught him off guard and he spoke too loudly when he reached them.
"Mind if I cut in?" He asked, taking Buffy's hand before Xander could reply.
"Giles, I didn't know you danced."
"There's lots that you don't know about me," he told her as he wrapped a hand around her waist, and led her around the dance floor.
"Oh, like what?"
"No, no, don't ask me now. Just dance."
Buffy felt safe in his arms, and comfortable. And occasionaly, although she wouldn't admit it even to herself, she felt a thrilling tingle when he brushed against her or now, when they were dancing close. It had been nearly two weeks since the night he had slept in her bed, and she had noticed the undercurrent between them, but neither of them had said a word about it. It had business as usual in the household.
The song came to an end, and they walked to the table where Xander sat. They all exclaimed that they hadn't realized how late it had gotten, and how they should be going. Giles and Buffy insisted that Xander come back and have tea with them; Buffy because she wanted to see as much of her friend as she could before he left, and grew cold again, and Giles because it was what was expected.
At the house Giles excused himself, saying he was tired. Buffy threw out the idea of tea and decided to make good old fashioned coffee for Xander and herself, and they sat on the couch while it brewed.
"So tell me the truth," Xander insisted as they chatted.
"About what?"
"You know what. You and Giles. Be honest."
"I'm telling you honestly, nothing. We have separate rooms and all." She got up to pour the coffee, carrying too mugs back to the couch.
Xander waited until she was sitting to resume his questioning. "There's something between the two of you."
"Yes, there is. I am the Vampire Slayer, and Giles is my Watcher. That constitutes something, doesn't it?"
"Look, this is Xander here, remember? Tell me honestly, and straight out. Are you and Giles a, you know, a couple?"
"No," Buffy said simply, although she couldn't account for the slight pain that she felt.
"Then why is he suddenly acting like a jealous boyfriend?"
Xander left soon after, but his words stuck in Buffy's head as she dressed for bed and went into the kitchen for some water. As she walked back to her room, she paused when she noticed Giles standing in his doorway. He turned to go back into his room, but stopped when she spoke.
"Giles?" Buffy's voice was soft, unsure.
Giles kept his back to her, saying nothing. A long pause passed between them before Buffy spoke again.
"Giles, I-" her voice broke off, unsure of where she was going. "I..." She trailed off again, unable to speak to Giles's back. She turned towards her room.
"Buffy, wait."
She turned back to him slowly. They stood, staring at one another, on opposite sides of the hallway. Finally Giles broke the silence.
"Buffy, I love you." He spoke plainly, but from the heart. "I know, I know that I'm much older than you, and far more reserved, but I love you. And I don t know when I started to or for how long, but I feel as though I always have. I know that you can't feel for me the same passion that you felt for Angel, but if you could only say...." He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "If you could only say that you could love me, that you might be able to love me, then --"
"I do," she interupted him, a sudden joy springing up inside her. "I do only I didn't know until you said it first. I love you, Giles."
They met halfway, and Giles wrapped his arms around her. For a long time, they stood there, holding onto one another, feelings rushing between them that neither knew existed. Feelings that had spent a long time boiling, but boiled over quickly.
When he kissed her, he was hesitant, nervous. But that was what she loved about him.
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