Found

They drove along in silence for awhile, both lost in their own thoughts. Every once in awhile Buffy would glance over at Giles profile, admiring him, and wondering what his thoughts were about. He looked very serious, and she wanted to help lighten his mood.

“I’ve just had a great idea Giles!”

“Hmm?” He said, without changing expression or looking up from his driving

.

“I think that when we have saved the day yet again, and Deidra is safe, and the world is safe, I think then you should give me some driving lessons. I want to get a motorcycle like Deidra has!”

Giles blanched, arched his eyebrows and said, “Then the world would seriously be in trouble. Don’t you think I get enough bumps on the head?”

Buffy elbowed him in the shoulder.

“Ouch! Watch that slayer strength” he said as he rubbed his right shoulder with his left hand, keeping his right hand firmly on the wheel.

“Isn’t watching your job?” Buffy teased. “Besides, you’re a great teacher! I’ll do great under your tutelage. Just look at my S.A.T. scores for proof of that.”

“I’m flattered, Buffy.” He rolled his eyes at her, but then smiled. “I’m sure we can get some lessons in eventually, but I am not recommending a motorcycle for you anytime soon. A tank perhaps, or some other big vehicle, but definitely not a motorcycle.”

“Well, one bite out of the cookie at a time I guess.” She smiled sweetly at him, and then leaned over and kissed his cheek. He was so startled he almost drove off the road.

“What was that for?” He asked

“I just felt like it.” Buffy answered. “I’m very grateful for you Giles, for everything. I can never make up for all the times I’ve hurt you.” She was serious suddenly. “I know I’ve treated you wrongly for so long, ignored you, hurt you, took you for granted. I wan want you to know that I am sorry, and that you mean a lot to me. Always.” She was afraid to look at him, and she couldn’t remember ever being that honest with her feelings for him before. She was afraid she almost said too much.

Giles took his eyes off the road to gaze at her for a moment. He saw just how serious she was.

“Buffy, you owe me no apologies. There isn’t anything you haven’t done that I didn’t do ten times over when I was young. That is part of growing up. It’s only natural. I just wish I could have protected you more.”

“There you go again, Giles, blaming yourself for things that are not your fault. Please, don’t.”

Giles smiled at her. “What has brought all this on?”

Buffy gathered her thoughts for a moment. She wanted to answer him, but without sounding like a little girl. She wanted him to know she cared for him, that he was important to her, and that she meant it and was not being frivolous. Another Giles word, she thought…frivolous.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately what a good team we are, and now with Deidra and everything, I guess I just want to make sure that nothing comes between us again, ever. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like Deidra a lot, and I want to do everything we can to help her, but I feel that we have gotten closer lately, and I don’t want anything to wreck that. I’ve done enough in the past to wreck things, and I don’t want to hurt you anymore, not ever. I just don’t want to lose you again. I don’t want you to ever leave me again.”

Giles heart almost broke at that. He should have never left her before. He had promised her once that he would never leave, and then after her return, he had done just that. He told himself it was for her own good. She had to learn to rely on herself, and not be so dependent. She had leaned on him to the point that he had been a crutch. But he also had to leave for himself. He loved her, and being so close to her every day, yet being so far from her, had torn him up inside. So he ran. And caused nothing but destruction by doing so. Buffy had turned to Spike just to feel something. Dawn had stolen to get attention, and Willow, well, Willow had abused the magics in hideous ways. He could never ever make it up to them. But he would never leave them again. He would prove everyday to Buffy that she could count on him for anything.

“You will never lose me, Buffy. Not ever. I promise.” He took her left hand is. is. They remained clasped tightly together the rest of the drive home to Sunnydale, neither speaking, but just enjoying their contact.

Following behind them was Deidra on her motorcycle. She had seen Buffy kiss him on the cheek. Her heart broke, and then hardened. Deidra knew that was the way it was to be. She was happy for them both, they did belong together. She knew that. She knew they completed each other, that Buffy and Giles were meant to be together. She would just have to keep telling herself that. But she felt so alone.

Meanwhile, in Sunnydale, Xander was just putting the finishing touches on the Magic Box remodeling job. He had done all the work himself, and was quite proud of it. Anya was anxious to open the store again, even though Giles would be back under foot. She hoped this new “world crisis” would keep him busy enough that he let her be. Not that she didn’t like having him back in Sunnydale. Of course she did. But she wanted the Magic Box all to herself.

The rest of the gang was starting to filter in. Dawn had returned from her friend’s house and was helping Anya with some of the new inventory. It all had to be catalogued and shelved before the new grand opening early next week. Xander was in the back finishing up the training room. He had a feeling it was going to get some use soon. Willow was already at work looking through books for anything she could find on the Forgotten One. Buffy had told her briefly over the phone that morning about Deidra. Willow was anxious to meet her. She had a ton of questions regarding Sulu, and the Laus dimension. Plus, she wanted to ask Deidra about what Giles had been like as a boy. She just knew that would make him squirm. Stuffy tweed guy, as a little boy! Giles never talked about himself, especially of his past growing up in England. Perhaps Deidra could enlighten them.

Willow was having no luck with the research, and her focus just wasn’t on either. She was anxious for Buffy and Giles’ return, and looked forward to meeting Deidra. The studying could wait. “Xander?!” She yelled towards the training room. “I’m going to order a pizza, and it’s your job to pick it up, okay?”

Xander came out of the room covered in dust and grime. “Do I have a choice?” he teased.

“See this? It’s my resolve face.” Willow said, and then the two burst out laughing. It was good to have all that business of the First behind them. After that, anything else should be a piece of cake.

Or so they thought.


TBC