Until We Meet Again

Disclaimer: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, the WB Television Network, and whoever else may have a hold on them. I do not mean to infringe upon any copyrights.

Prologue

Buffy glanced out at the crater formerly named Sunnydale with a small smile. Finally she felt at peace. She was exhausted, but despite aching wounds and bruises, she was finally at peace. She closed her eyes and drew in a big breath. Thank god it was finally over. She was no longer the Chosen One, she was now one among many.

“Feels pretty good huh?”

Buffy smiled as she heard Willow’s voice. “Yeah, it really does. Despite our losses today, it really does.”

Willow hugged her tight. “Imagine that Buffy,” she whispered, “you’re now just an ordinary girl.”

Buffy grinned, hugged Willow back, once again reminded why Willow was her closest friend. She should have known her best friend would know how she felt.

“Yeah, imagine that,” she whispered.

Willow let go of her. “So, what now Buffy?”

Buffy glanced over at her battered warriors huddled together, talking excitedly to each other. There was no doubt there would be an emotional aftermath after this. Especially for Xander, but she also knew it would be all right. They would all heal. She caught Dawn’s eye, and gave her a smile. Dawn waved back then returned to talking to Andrew.

Buffy looked back at Willow. “First, I am going to sleep for two days straight. Make sure Xander is ok, and then I was thinking about taking Dawn to see dad. She needs him now.”

Willow nodded. “Yeah, sounds like a good idea. You’re not staying?”

Buffy’s eyes sparkled and she gave Willow a smile. “No. I’m going to go find Giles.”

Willow’s eyes misted and she hugged her friend with a loud squeal. Buffy laughed and hugged her back.

Willow knew how much it had hurt her when Giles was deported by the Council over two years ago. It had been one of Buffy’s worst days in memory, and she shuddered as she remembered the day they had all followed him to the airport.. She’d resolved she wouldn’t cry as soon as she’d gotten the fateful news from Giles that the Council had made sure to revoke his green card. She had hung on to a last shred of hope that they would found a way out or that she would wake up from what seemed like an awful nightmare. But when she was the last one to get her goodbye at LAX airport, she had crumbled.

//
A pain so much fiercer than any physical wound had caused tears to spring from her eyes when Giles had turned to her and looked at her with sad eyes as the final boarding call was announced to take him away from her.

Giles stepped close to her and brushed the tears from her cheek with his thumbs as he cradled her cheek in his hands. “Tears? Not on my watch” he whispered in a broken voice.

Buffy threw herself at him and buried her face in his shirt as sobs made her back shake. “Don’t leave me, Giles. I can’t do this without you.”

Giles embraced her fiercely. “Yes, you can Buffy. You are the strongest woman I know.”

Buffy vehemently shook her head and tightened her hold. “Please don’t leave me.”

Tears had formed in Giles eyes, and he had kissed the top of her head. “I promise to both call and write. I won’t have left you.”

Buffy pulled back and looked at him with a tear stained face. “But you won’t be here.”

Giles closed his eyes and swallowed hard a few times. He opened them, and then lightly tapped her chest. “I’ll be right here Buffy, just as you will be in mine.” He placed her hand on his chest above his heart, covering her hand with his.

Buffy frowned and spoke in a shaky voice. “It’s a pretty poor substitute.”

Giles pulled her back into his arm and whispered in her ear. “Yes, it is.”

Last boarding was called again, and Giles tried to let her go, but Buffy clung to him. “I love you, Giles.” She whispered fiercely.

Giles kissed her cheek, the side of his mouth briefly touching hers. “And I you, my love.”

He kissed her forehead, and then managed to extract himself. He gave Buffy a last long glance as he gave his boarding card. She was clinging to Willow, and tears were coursing down her cheeks.

With a last smile he turned around and disappeared through the doors. It was the last time she saw him.
//

They had stayed in touch as he had promised, but when she died fighting Glory, Giles had cut his ties with the rest of them. He had written a letter to Willow explaining how hard he had taken her death and that he needed time to heal. They had never heard from him again.

When Buffy returned, she had tried to contact him, but he was nowhere to be found. He had moved and had left no forwarding address or phone number. Buffy had been inconsolable when they were unable to locate him, and until this day she had never stopped thinking about him.

Willow jumped up and down excitedly, but then sobered. “Not to rain on your parade, Buffy, but how are you going to be able to find him? He could be anywhere.”

“Yeah I know, but if I have to search the entire earth for him, I will. It’s not like I have anything but time now.”

Willow laughed. “True.” She wrapped her arm around Buffy’s and they headed towards the others. “So where are you going to start? I mean, the world’s a pretty big place.”

Buffy grinned. “Where else? England.”

Chapter 1

Buffy’s heart beat furiously as she stood outside the Louvre, wiling her hands to stop shaking by taking deep breaths. She couldn’t believe it. She had finally found him. It had taken longer than she had expected, but she had needed to be there for Xander, and when she left for her dad’s with Dawn she had ended up staying there until she got everything settled for her trip. Her father had given her a large financial contribution, which helped tremendously.

Finally, she had taken a plane to England, to start looking in Giles’ home country. She had started out in Bath, where one of his old neighbors believed she could recall Giles saying something about the British museum. She had spent a few days in his home city, soaking in every building, street and park she imagined Giles had been.

Then she had taken the train to London, where she had called the British museum merely to find out that there was no Rupert Giles working there. She had spent several days visiting every museum in town and called every R. Giles she could find in the phone book. But, still no luck.

In sheer desperation she had decide to pay the British Museum a visit. The information desk had been rather frustrated as they had tried to explain to her over and over that they knew no Rupert Giles.

Buffy was devastated until luck had struck. The director of the museum had passed and heard their conversation. It turned out he used to be a very close friend of Giles when they had both worked there years ago, and they still kept in touch now.

Five days later, she found herself outside the Louvre in France, where Giles had a position as curator. She had been outside for an hour now. Working up the nerve to give him the shock of the year.

She straightened her skirt nervously and then headed towards the main entrance. It took some time to find out where the administration wing was, but eventually she was standing in a large reception hall, waiting patiently for the receptionist to get off the phone.

After what seemed forever the girl turned to her. “Mademoiselle, Puis-je vous aider?

Buffy swallowed nervously. “Um, I am here to see Rupert Giles.”

The woman nodded and responded in broken English. “Do you have an appointment?”

Buffy shook her head. “No, but I am friend of his.”

The woman looked at her critically. “Monsieur Giles is a very busy man. You need an appointment to see him.”

Buffy’s face fell. “Please, can’t you just tell him I am here? I am sure he would see me.”

The receptionist frowned. “He is in a meeting right now, but if you can take a seat he should be by shortly.”

Buffy gave her a nervous smile and took a seat on a nearby couch. Her hands were shaking so badly now that she grabbed a hold of a magazine to keep them busy. The minutes passed so slowly she was pretty sure she would pass out. Every time she heard foot-steps coming down the hall she would look up expectantly, but he didn’t show.

Half an hour later she was about ready to scream from nervousness, but she heard the chatter of some men coming from around the corner from where she was sitting.

They were speaking in French, but her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as she recognized the voice of her Watcher. Time seemed to stand still, and she lost her breath when he came around the corner. He was looking at some documents in his hand and barely glanced at her as he passed her.

He continued a few more steps as Buffy’s stomach fell, and then he stopped abruptly, causing the other man to bump into him. Buffy rose slowly, knowing that this moment would be forever branded into her memory.

The man he was with looked at him with a question mark on his face, then followed his gaze as Giles turned around and met Buffy’s nervous look.

He didn’t move or speak, just looked at her with wide eyes. The other man kept switching between looking at the two of them. Buffy swallowed and walked slowly towards Giles, trying to smile. He just kept staring at her.

Finally she was right in front of him, close enough to touch. She brought a shaky hand up to his cheek and stroked it slowly.

“Hey Giles” she whispered.

Giles looked like he had seen a ghost, and she quickly realized, that to him she probably was.

“You’re not seeing things,” she said. “It’s really me.”

Her hand was still resting on his cheek, and she closed her eyes when his own came up and rested on top of the hand that was touching him.

“Oh my god.” he whispered.

Buffy’s eyes were now threatening to overflow with happy tears, and when she blinked they trailed down her cheek. “Don’t you mean dear lord?” she almost sobbed out.

The next ting she knew she found herself in a crushing embrace, surrounded by the oh so familiar scent of a man she had dreamt of for years.

Chapter 2
The feeling of being in his arms surpassed every fantasy she had ever had about this moment. His hold was just as tight, until he suddenly pushed her away and checked her up and down frantically.

Buffy looked at him with a worried frown, until his hand shot up to touch her neck. He brushed her hair away, and laid his hand against her pulse with wide eyes. Buffy laughed breathlessly and launched herself back into his chest with a soggy chuckle. “It’s daytime silly, and I’m in France.”

Giles laughed as well and squeezed her tight. “Yes, well, I am not thinking clearly right now.”

Buffy laughed again and only tightened her hold.

“Ah, Rupert, care to introduce us to your ah, friend?” Came a soft-spoken voice close to them.

Giles pulled away and suddenly realized he had completely forgotten he was standing in the middle of the reception area, with several onlookers. He blushed, and tucked one arm around Buffy as he introduced her to his colleague.

“Pierre, this is Buffy Summers. My, ah, friend from when I worked in the US. Buffy, this is Pierre Badeau, my right hand man here at the museum.”

Buffy laughed and swiped some errant tears away from her cheek before shaking hands with Pierre. “Hi, sorry about that. Been a long time since I have seen this man.”

Pierre grinned. “So I gathered.”

Giles kept looking at her with awe in his eyes, and Buffy found herself incapable of tearing her gaze away from him. He hadn’t changed one bit. Oh, sure, there were a few more lines on his face and a few more streaks of grey hair by his ear. Without realizing her hand traveled to his cheek again, and she stroked his skin. Giles smiled and kissed her softly on the cheek.

“Come with me, I’ll take you to my office.” He turned to Pierre. “We can talk tomorrow, alright? I have some rather pressing matters to attend to” he said with a smile and looked back at Buffy.

Pierre raised his hands in front of his chest and walked away. “Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t dare to intervene here.”

Giles thanked him and tightened his hold on Buffy as he steered her down the hall. “This way.”

He kept looking at her as they walked, and Buffy felt happier than she had in years. They finally reached his door, and he let her go in front of him as they entered. When he closed the door, they stood looking at each other nervously for a few seconds until Giles stepped closer. He touched first her cheek and then ran his hand down her hair.

“Oh God, Buffy.” He hugged her again. “You’re alive. You’re here.”

Buffy hugged him back and closed her eyes.

“And you are still …. remarkably strong” he croaked as she squeezed him a little too tight.

“Huh? Oh.” Buffy let go and blushed. “Sorry.”

Giles only shook his head as he looked at her with a disbelieving smile. “It's, uh ... you're ... “ he trailed off.

Buffy grinned impishly. “A miracle?”

Giles smiled and then sobered and said softly. “Yes. But then, I always thought so.”

Buffy closed her eyes and stepped back into his arms. “God, I have missed you so much Giles.”

“And I you, love” Giles whispered, and raised his head to look at her. He cupped her cheek and leaned slowly forward. Buffy’s breath caught, and she held her breath in anticipation. As he closed in she could vividly remember the feelings she’d developed for him over two years ago. And the sensations he was causing in her now, she realized they had never fully disappeared. They had merely been dormant, cloaked by her grief for the loss of him.

When he brushed his lips against her cheek, she almost groaned out loud in disappointment. His lips lingered on her skin, and Buffy yearned for them to be elsewhere. She looked down as he stepped away, but then shrugged. Things had changed, and she was not about to risk losing him by making inappropriate declarations of love. She was here with him now, that was all that mattered. It had to be enough.

He squeezed her shoulder quickly, and then gestured for her to take a seat on the couch against the wall.

“Come, sit down, we have quite a lot of catching up to do.”

Chapter 3
Giles watched Buffy make herself comfortable on his couch with a furiously beating heart. He was tempted to pinch himself just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He could not believe that the woman in front of him, who he had dreamed and grieved over, was alive.

When Willow had called him and sobbingly told him about Buffy’s death, his world had fallen apart. For the second time in his life, he had lost another woman he had cared for. No, that wasn’t right. He had cared greatly for Jenny, but it was Buffy he had been deeply in love with.

It had come rather as a surprise when he had finally been able to figure out the feelings he’d developed for her. When she asked him to be her Watcher again he hadn’t even thought twice about saying yes. That was when he realized why he did so. He had fallen in love with his Slayer.

Little did he know what the Council was plotting against them. Before he had time to even consider doing something about his feelings, he was taken away from her. The tearful goodbye at the airport was one of the most painful days he could ever remember of his entire life. Next to the day he was told she had been ripped from the earth. His heart had shattered and he had pulled up his roots, left his life behind him and never looked back. It was too painful to be around any reminder of her.

“Giles?”

His thoughts were interrupted by Buffy’s soft-spoken voice, and he realized he was still standing in the middle of the office, staring at her. He smiled, amazed once again she was really there.

He sat down close to her, and grabbed a hold of her hand. He needed to touch her, to make sure she was really there. He hoped he’d never have to let go of it ever again. He glanced nervously at her. Him touching her this way might be little too close for comfort for her. He realized they had touched more today than they had in the five years they had known each other.

Luckily Buffy only laced her fingers with his and gave him a smile. She curled her feet up beneath her and leaned into his shoulder. “So, ready to hear what you’ve been missing out on? I’m warning you, it’s pretty awful.”

Giles released his hold on her hand and draped it over her shoulder instead. His free hand grabbed her fingers that had fisted in his shirt. “I’m ready.” He whispered.

Giles listened in disbelief as Buffy told him of the events since he had left. He held her in his arms as she relived the loss of her mother, her resurrection and Willow’s magic addiction. Her job at Double Meat Palace, Spike, the potentials, the destruction of the Council, Caleb, The First Evil and the bringers, and the destruction of Sunnydale. Her breakdown came when she told him about the loss of Anya. The emotions seemed to pour out of her, and Giles held her tightly against his chest, while murmuring words of comfort in her ear. The walls she had built since her calling came crumbling down fast and hard.

Dusk fell on the city, and hours had passed, when she finally quieted. He rested his head on the top of her crown while he kept stroking her hair. He suspected the emotional breakdown had left her exhausted, and was reluctant to make her get up right now, but he wanted her laying down in a comfortable bed to get some real rest. He kissed the top of her head.

“Buffy?” he murmured.

“Mm?” she responded in a sleepy voice.

“Let me take you home. You need some rest.”

Buffy struggled to sit up, and looked at him with bloodshot eyes. “Yeah you’re probably right.”
She yawned and looked at him. “Sorry about all of this. I just...” she trailed off.

Giles rose, helped her up and hugged her. “Buffy, there’'s no need to apologize. I am just so sorry you had to go through this.” He closed his eyes and said in a shaky voice. “God, if I had just been there, I-“

Buffy placed her hand on her cheek. “No, Giles, don’t think like that. Probably nothing would have changed. Don’t you dare blame yourself for this.”

Giles nodded without much enthusiasm. “Alright, come on let’s get you out of here.”

Buffy stretched. “God, my hotel bed sounds pretty damn good by now.”

Giles stopped in the middle of grabbing his briefcase from the floor. “Hotel? You’re not staying at some hotel. You are coming home with me.”

He cringed as soon as the words were out. That was rather presumptions of him, but he was reluctant to let her out of his sight for even a second.

His fears were calmed when Buffy’s face lit up in a shining smile. “Really? I can stay with you?”

He grabbed her hand and brought her out of his office as he spoke. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

*

Giles hailed a cab outside the museum and told the driver the name of Buffy’s hotel so they could retrieve her luggage. In no time they had gathered her things and were heading toward his apartment. Buffy fell asleep against his shoulder on the way there and Giles had the driver help him up with her luggage as he carried Buffy inside.

He laid her gently down on his bed, so he could pay the cab driver, figuring he could take the couch for remainder of her stay. He dreaded asking her how long she was staying. He wanted to cling to this dream come true as long as he could.

He returned shortly and approached the bed. She was asleep, and he could see the fatigue on her face. He thought about getting her out of her clothes, but he wasn’t sure how she would feel about that. Considering the feelings she had provoked in him in a few short hours, he would avoid that. He merely removed her sandals, and tucked the sheet around her.

Still he was not able to resist placing a loving kiss on her forehead, reveling in the fact that the woman he had never stopped loving was alive and tucked into his bed. With a smile, he turned from her and shut off the light on the night table. He was just about to close the bedroom door behind him when he heard her speak.

“Giles?”

“Yes, Buffy?” he responded softly.

“Can you please stay with me?” she asked in a small voice.

“Of course.” He stepped back in and glanced at his chair.

“No, here.” Buffy patted the bed.

Giles gave her a long look, and was tempted to turn her down. Lying next to her without being able to touch and kiss her they way he wanted to would be torture. But the hopeful tone of her voice broke down all his defenses, and he walked over to the bed and crawled in next to her, sure to remain on top of the covers. She immediately curled up, and rested her head on his chest, her arm wrapped around his waist. Giles closed his eyes and stroked her back as she fell back asleep.

He took in the feel of her body pressed to his, her warmth and the scent of her hair. Never had he loved a woman as much as her, and he felt his restraints snapping every minute he spent in her company. With a sigh, he stroked her hair until sleep finally claimed him.

*
He woke hours later when Buffy stirred and got up from the bed. He glanced at the alarm on the night table. It was still the middle of the night. He watched her curiously as she moved around his bedroom. He grinned when she saw her stop by his drawer, wondering what had possessed her to go snooping in his bedroom at 3 am.

His eye brow rose when she started opening his dresser drawers, and he was just about to ask her what she thought she was doing when she pulled out one of his undershirts and held it up to her face. He went speechless as he watched her take deep breath of his shirt, and he was afraid his heart would stop as he watched her place it on his dresser and start to get undressed with her back to him.

The moonlight caressed her skin as it revealed her removing layer upon layer. She was the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen, and although he knew he should tear his gaze from her when she was clad only her underwear, he found himself incapable of doing so. He almost groaned in disappointment when she pulled his undershirt on, and had to will himself to stay still.

He was taken off guard when she suddenly turned, and their gaze locked. It was too late to pretend he hadn’t been watching her, but instead of getting mad, she only blushed and tugged the shirt nervously. “Sorry, I just needed something to sleep in. I hope it’s alright?”

Giles tried to respond, but had to clear his throat before he was able to. “Of course.” His voice came out husky and much lower than he had intended.

Buffy ducked her head and then walked back to the bed. She climbed back in and looked at him critically. “Giles, you’re wearing an awful lot of clothes. You won’t shock me if you lose some of them, you know?”

He looked down at himself. “No, no, I’m fine.”

“Giles.” The amused tone in her voice made him look back at her. She was grinning. “Strip.”

Giles was unable to hold back a chuckle and rose from the bed. “If you insist.”

He was slightly unnerved as she watched him, but figured he had done the same to her; it was only fair. He stripped down to his boxers and undershirt and then crawled back onto the bed. His eyes widened as she held up the comforter for him, indicating he should get underneath the blankets with her. He lay down, and once again he found Buffy flush against him in her previous position. She giggled into his chest, and he smiled.

“What are you giggling about?”

Buffy stroked his chest. “We match.”

Giles chuckled. His hand covered hers and he laced their fingers together. “We certainly do.”

Chapter 4
Buffy woke up the next morning to the blaring of an alarm clock. She would have turned it off, but she was held so tightly against Giles’s chest she couldn’t have moved an inch if she wanted to. Luckily, his arm shot out and he turned the offending noise off.

He rubbed her back and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before climbing out of bed. Buffy tried to quench the disappointment that he was getting up, but she knew he had a job and was a busy man. She rolled over onto her stomach, placed her hands under her chin on the pillow and sighed. Responsibility sucked.

Just as she was about to doze off she heard Giles come back into the room, and there was a flutter in her stomach as she sensed him crawling across the bed towards her. A gust of air brushed against her body as he lifted the comforter and settled himself under it with her. He built a nice warm cocoon around them, brought his chest flush against her side and laid his hand on her back, stroking softly with long slow sweeps.

Buffy grinned and turned her head around to meet his smiling face.

“Good morning,” he murmured in a deep voice that made her shiver. “Slept well?”

Buffy nodded happily. “Yes, I did. And good morning to you too. Did you?”

Giles’s smile softened. He let his eyes follow his hand as it brushed some hair from her face. “Very.” He answered in that same low voice. “As a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time I slept as well as I did last night.” He grinned and let his finger trail down her cheek as his eyes met hers. “Must have been the company.”

Buffy beamed and rolled on her side so she was facing him. His hand on her back slipped to her waist, his fingers brushing against her naked skin, where her shirt had risen. Their gazes locked, and Buffy completely forgot what she was about to say.

Her hand came up to rest against his chest, and a heady tension filled the space between their bodies. His eyes were burning with an intensity she’d never seen before, and she suspected her eyes matched his, if her heart had any say in the matter.

She felt incapable of hiding her feelings for him anymore, and the way he was looking at her clearly said he felt something about her, too. Several moments passed as they seemed to have a silent conversation. Both searched and finally found what they needed.

She held back a gasp when she felt his leg brush against hers, and fisted her hand in his shirt when he started slipping his leg between hers while simultaneously pulling her closer to his body. Her body temperature seemed to have risen several degrees, and she leaned her forehead against his as his strong thigh placed itself between hers.

Her eyes opened when she felt the brush of his hand against her cheek, and she met his heavy lidded gaze. His pupils were dilated and his green eyes darkened when they met hers. Her breathing became shallow when he brushed her lower lip with his thumb, making sure to keep eye contact as he caressed her softly. Her lips parted and he closed his eyes with a low moan when her tongue brushed against the pad of his thumb.

Buffy inched closer to him, and brushed against his erection. His eyes opened, and the heat in his gaze almost melted her on the spot. He pulled her flush against him and rolled her on her back, laying half on top of her. Slowly he leaned his head towards her neck, and she shuddered as she felt his breath against her skin before his lips grazed her neckline. Her hand tangled in his hair and she pressed his lips more firmly against her neck.

He parted his lips and let his tongue brush against her skin. She wasn’t able to hold back a whimper. Oh god, who is this man? She thought to herself, Never had she expected herself to ever be in such an intimate situation with him. Except maybe in her dreams. Had he not looked and smelled like her Watcher, she would have suspected she’d woken up in a stranger’s bed.

The painful realization he wasn’t actually her Watcher anymore, and hadn’t been for several years, made her eyes snap open. She tightened her arms desperately around him as painful memories of his disappearance surfaced.

His kisses stopped and he raised his head and looked at her in question. “Buffy? Are you alright?”

She hated for this moment to end, but she needed to know. “Giles?” she whispered. “Where have you been all these years? Why did you disappear?” Her hand stroked his chin, and tears gathered in her eyes. “I’ve looked for you for so long.”

Giles closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. He drew a deep breath. When he didn’t answer, she pressed on. “Why did you cut yourself off from the others?” Her voice broke. “I couldn’t find you when I got back, and nobody knew where you were.”

He sighed and hugged her close before lifting himself off her. For a second, Buffy was worried he was going to leave, but he lay next to her and pulled her close. He rested his head on the pillow next to her. His eyes were pained and his voice shook slightly when he spoke. “When you died…”

He trailed off, closed his eyes and swallowed, before opening them again. Buffy’s heart ached when she saw the moisture in his, and she stroked his chest encouragingly. Giles covered her hand with his and let his thumb stroke back and forth. “The latter part of my life, Buffy, has revolved around you. You went from being my charge to . . . someone I cared deeply for. And when you died, my whole life fall apart.”

Buffy listened with wide eyes, stunned that he put words to the way she’d felt when she came back and he was nowhere to be found.

Giles’ voice dropped to a whisper as he continued. “I blamed myself for your death, because I wasn’t there.” Buffy started shaking her head, but he stroked her cheek to keep her from speaking. Buffy gave in and stayed silent. She suspected he needed to say this.

“But the worst came just a few days after your death. I realized I blamed the others since they were there. I was shocked by my own emotions. I had become a broken shell of the man I used to be. So I broke contact, asked them for time. But, even with time, I couldn’t go on the way I had. I was haunted by the memories of you. Somehow everywhere I looked I would see, smell or hear something that reminded me of you.”

Buffy swiped a tear from his cheek, and Giles attempted to smile wryly and failed badly. “How was I supposed to know that you are one woman who is incredibly hard to forget?”

Buffy, whose own eyes had misted up, laughed soggily and snuggled into his neck. She held him tight to ease both their pain.

Giles held her back and kissed the top of her head before continuing. “I left, traveled the world. I tried to keep myself busy, tried to erase my memory of you, but all I felt was emptiness. A never-ending emptiness. And the memory of you haunted me. Still has. Until yesterday.”

He tightened his hold on her and whispered, “Oh god, Buffy.”

Buffy stroked his hair as she whispered soothingly into his ear. “It’s alright Giles, Shh, it’s alright. I am here now. We both are.”

Several minutes passed until he got a hold of himself. He whiped his cheeks, where the silent tears had fallen, and continued speaking. “Before I knew it, a year had passed since I’d spoken to them, and I felt so awful for doing what I did to them. Leaving them behind like that.”

Buffy stroked his back soothingly. “You’re only human Giles.”

Giles laughed cheerlessly and whispered. “And even more so when it comes to you, dear. I lost all rational thought, and when it came back to me, I felt it was too late. Didn’t want to disappoint them anymore.”

He pulled her tighter and Buffy slipped her hand beneath his shirt to stroke his chest. “They’ve only said good things about you, Giles. They’ve been sad, but never angry at you for disappearing.”

Giles was too choked to speak and just kissed her hair again. When he felt he had control of his emotions again he pulled back and looked at her. “By the way, do they know you found me?”

Buffy felt relieved that the painful conversation was over and raised herself on her elbow. “Yeah, I called them yesterday. All of them send you their love.” Giles smiled when he heard that.

She stroked his cheek. “I do understand your actions, Giles. I really do. When I couldn’t find you, I was devastated, and was ready shake heaven and earth to deal with my feelings. But real life kicked in and I just had to run to keep up with it. There was no time for anything else.”

Her voice dropped into a whisper. “But I want to tell you something. When it was over, the first thing I thought about was you. I told Willow I would search the earth for you.” She laughed breathlessly. “Thank god it didn’t take me that long.”

Giles laughed as well, a little shakily, and pulled her tightly against his chest. “Yes, thank god. I’m not sure how many days I would have managed more without you.”

Buffy squeezed him and stroked his chest with soft tender strokes. They stayed like, resting in each others arms for a while, until Giles spoke again. “How did you find me Buffy?”

Buffy laughed. “Well first I went to Bath, and your old neighbor tipped me off to the British Museum. But they claimed they’d never heard of you when I called and asked about you.”

Giles nodded. “It’s been a long time since I worked there.”

“So I literally searched everywhere in London for you.” Buffy grinned. “Looked up every R Giles in the phonebook and stopped by every museum. Finally, I went to the British Museum in person and tried again. Still no luck. But then your old buddy Ashton Hirschfield swung by and gave me your location.”

“Ashton you say?” Giles laughed and pulled her close. “He called me the day before you arrived. He actually got me the job at the Louvre, but we hadn’t spoken in months. And usually he calls me because of business -- never to chat. But the other day when he called he was acting very strange. Wondering if I were busy and had I had a visitor lately. Now it all makes sense.”

Buffy laughed as well. “Yeah, well, I made him promise not to tell. I wanted to give you a surprise.”

Giles chuckled and slipped his hand underneath her shirt to caress her back. “You gave me the shock of my lifetime, you did.”

Buffy raised her head. “Was it too much?”

Giles chuckled and stroked her cheek, and brought her head back down to rest on his chest. “It was perfect, love.”

Buffy smiled, and realized how exhausted she felt after their talk. The feel of Giles hand stroking her hair soon lulled her to sleep.

Chapter 5
The next time Giles woke, he was alone in bed. For a second he panicked, when he found no trace of Buffy. He worried that her return had all been a dream, but then he found her perfume lingering on his pillow and relaxed. He pressed the pillow close to his face, breathing in deep for a moment, before sitting up.

“Buffy?”

Mere seconds later, he heard footsteps running towards the room, and the next thing he knew he found a very excited Buffy bouncing into bed with him. She was wearing a beautiful sundress, and his heart constricted with pleasure as she threw her arms around him.

“Giles! Finally, you’re awake!”

Giles laughed breathlessly and pulled her tight, lost in a true moment of bliss. “You could have just woken me, you know,” he murmured into her hair.

“Nah,” she shrugged as she pulled back. “You looked like you needed it. Plus, you’re awfully cute when you are asleep, did you know that?” She asked with an impish smile.

Giles smiled and stroked a finger down her cheek. “I had no idea.”

Buffy grinned and nodded. “Well, you really are. Cute like a bunny.”

Giles laughed and tickled her side until she squealed. “Brat.”

She grabbed his hand excitedly when he stopped. “Come on, get up, we need to take advantage of your free day!”

Giles glanced at his clock. “Oh dear, it’s after noon. We missed breakfast.”

Buffy stood, not quite able to stop bouncing. “That’s ok, I made a picnic basket. We can eat outside!”

Giles smiled and got up and stretched. “What a lovely idea. I know just the place.”

********************

Half an hour later, when they stepped outside of his apartment, Buffy strained to look everywhere around her at once. Giles smiled down at her, and then decided to be a little daring. After what had happened this morning, he felt quite confident about what was brewing between them. He grabbed Buffy’s hand and laced it with his.

Buffy smiled up at him and pulled herself closer as they walked down the street, towards the Seine. It was on the way to the park, and at the least, Giles wanted to show her a little bit of Paris before they settled down. The day was sunny and bright, with a nice cool breeze to lessen the heat of the summer as they strolled hand in hand.

As they approached the river, Giles let go of Buffy’s hand and placed his arm around her shoulder, smiling as she slipped her own around his waist. He pulled her in front of him as they stopped to enjoy the view by the river, circling her waist and pulling her snug to his front as he explained about all the different buildings in their field of view.

The scent of her was wrecking havoc on his senses, and causally he let his fingers stroke her stomach as he talked. Buffy rested her own hands on his forearms and leaned her head on his chest.

The feel of her in his arms was the most exquisite feeling he had ever had, and he didn’t fight the urge to brush his lips against her neck. He heard Buffy’s breath catch. When he raised his head, he saw her eyes had closed. He grinned wolfishly, very pleased that he wasn’t the only one affected by their closeness.

“Enjoying the view?” He murmured close to her ear.

He had to hold back a chuckle as her eyes snapped open, and he watched the blush rise on her face as she nodded vigorously. “Oh, yeah,” she said breathlessly.

He refrained from commenting, just enjoying the blush on her skin, and swore to himself that he’d continue this wonderful play the remainder of the day. He let his lips brush her neck again, and both laughed as her stomach growled.

Giles rubbed her stomach. “Come on, there’s a piece of green grass with our name on it.”

******************************

When they found a nice spot close to a tree, they settled down with the basket between them. Buffy unpacked all kinds of food: a mixture of cheese, fruit, bread and wine.

“I had no idea all of this was in my kitchen.”

Buffy grinned. “Well, you didn’t have it in your kitchen. I snuck out while you were sleeping and found a deli close by.”

Giles looked up from the basket with surprised eyes. “You did? How very sweet of you.”

Buffy blushed and busied herself with some bread. “I just wanted to make it nice for us.”

“And so you did” Giles murmured and stroked her bare arm. He watched in fascination as goose bumps spread on her skin. “Cold?”

She shook her head and answered breathlessly. “Not at all.”

Giles eyes twinkled as they locked with hers. “Good.”

Buffy ducked her head and spread some cheese on a piece of loaf. Giles couldn’t help but notice how lovely the sun shone on her hair, and was unable to resist tucking a stray strand behind her ear as it fell down in front of her face.

“Thank you” he whispered.

Buffy smiled at him. “Hey, no big. It didn’t take me that long.”

Giles shook his head. He stroked her cheek and spoke in a low voice. “No, thank you for this. Thank you, for finding me.”

Buffy sobered and looked him straight in the eyes. “I’d do anything for you, Giles.”

He leaned forward without realizing, bringing his mouth close to hers. “As would I for you, dear.”

Buffy’s eyes widened and she stared at his lips as they got closer. Giles seriously contemplated kissing her right there and then, but decided to wait. He was enjoying this far too much. He let his lips barely brush the side of hers, and then leaned back, looking anywhere but at her, as he heard what sounded suspiciously like a frustrated sigh coming from her.

He fought to hold back a grin, snapped the piece of bread she was holding, and took a big bite. “Mmm, very good.”

Buffy scowled playfully at him, and then hurried to make another one for herself.

When they were sated, Giles leaned back on his arms, stretching his longs legs in front of him. Buffy packed the remaining food back into the basket. When she was done, she placed it out of their way and settled closer to him on the grass. Giles tugged her arm, indicating that she should come closer, and she lay down on her back, resting her head on his thigh, and closed her eyes.

“I’m stuffed” she moaned, and Giles laughed.

He placed a hand on her stomach and stroked it soothingly. Buffy made a content sound. It was far too content for Giles’ liking. He decided to up the stakes a bit.

He lifted his hand from her tummy and used the tip of his finger to trace the shape of her face. Buffy smiled and opened her eyes. Giles smiled back at her; the back of his finger stroking the bridge, of her nose, her cheeks, and then lightly tracing her lips. When Buffy parted her lips, a jolt of arousal hit him, and both their smiles froze. Her eyes darkened, and, after a breathless moment, his fingers trailed down her cheek, to her neck. He grew bold and ran his fingers across the skin above her dress.

The hunger in her eyes was mirrored in his. A whimper escaped Buffy’s lips as his fingers touched the edge of her chest, and in one thoughtless moment he almost covered her breast. He realized he had forgotten completely where they were, and that anyone could see them.

Just then a splash of water hit Buffy straight in the face, and Giles looked up, realizing a dark cloud was looming over them. The sky opened, and rain poured down as they scrambled to their feet, seeking refugee under a nearby tree.

Giles pressed Buffy back against the trunk, trying to shield them both from the rain.

“Oh, wow, that was close, huh?” Buffy laughed up at him.

Giles grinned and wiped a drop of rain from her cheek. He tried not to look down at her rather damp dress. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I would rather say we were too late.”

Buffy wiped her face, and looked up at him with a slightly nervous gaze. “God, I can just imagine. I must look like a drowned cat.”

Giles laughed at the absurdity of her comment. “I think you are the loveliest woman I have ever seen.”

Buffy stared at him for a second, before she started laughing. “That’s the biggest lie I’ve heard in a long time.”

Giles pressed his body closer, his mouth hovering above hers. “It’s true. I can think of several ways right now to prove it.”

Buffy stared at him, and Giles felt the light moment between them disappear as if someone had laughed out loud in a funeral. Heat filled her beautiful eyes, and Giles slipped one leg between her thighs without realizing exactly what he was doing.

A couple ran past them and broke the moment before it went too far. Giles looked up at the sky with dismay. It didn’t seem that it would ever lighten up, and he refused to stand here in the rain, and risk getting Buffy sick. He grinned. He had plans for her later.

When he looked back at her, Buffy was still looking at him with a glazed expression. He smiled softly and cupped her face in his hand, kissing her cheek lightly. “Come on, let’s run back and get into some dry clothes.” He really wanted to get them out of their wet clothes, and remain that way, but it could wait.

He grabbed Buffy’s hand in one of his and the basket with the other and both started running. By the time they reached his apartment, they were drenched to the bone. Giles pushed Buffy in and slammed the door in a hurry, as if he expected the rain to follow them inside. He turned to Buffy with a big smile, but he froze as he saw Buffy’s pissed off expression. Meant for him.

Chapter 6
Buffy was pissed. No, she was fuming, and the rain and her soaking clothes had done nothing to cool her down. This cat and mouse game Giles had been playing since this morning had worked her into a sexual frustration and she was very close to screaming.

“What the hell are you trying to do to me?!” She ground out between clenched teeth.

Giles’ smile froze on his face. He looked like a deer caught in headlights as she exploded.

“Don’t give me that look, Giles! You’re not stupid, and I know for a fact that you’ve enjoyed this little game of yours way too much.”

Giles was still speechless, and it only fed her anger more.

“Why haven’t you kissed me yet? I mean, there’ve been plenty of opportunities. Many of which you set up yourself, I might add. It’s damn frustrating this way! You’re setting up rules like. . . .like this relationship is some kind of board game!”

By now, she was prowling his small hall like a caged animal, completely ignoring him as she vented. “I mean, I know you want, and I know you know I want. Damn it, Giles, I even know you know I know you know I want! Jesus Christ, what the hell are you up to? Why are you tormenting me like this? After this morn-“

Suddenly she found herself plastered against the door, with Giles’ mouth crushed against hers.
She heard a sound, somewhere between a gasp and a moan, and she realized it came from her.
Her lips shivered and parted, and she met his questing tongue with hers. His hands wrapped themselves around her waist, and a ball of fire gathered in her lower abdomen.

Her hands moved to his chest, and she found muscles hard as a wall beneath his shirt. She raised her hands to his neck, seeking out his skin. It was warm and smooth and she placed her fingers against his pulse.

She felt it beat furiously, a clear sign that his hunger matched hers. Their kiss deepened, and she felt the tension in him as his muscles strained under her hands. His mouth moved over hers with a fierce passion, occasionally letting her breathe, before diving back in. She felt dizzy with desire and pressed tighter against him.

His hands tightened below her ribs, hard and demanding. They slid up her back, to her shoulders, and then back again to her lower back, as he pulled her tighter to his body.

She shivered again as his tongue twisted with hers, and she soaked in his heat. Her mind was blank, superseded by instincts and emotions. She was filled by him and overpowered by his closeness. Her hands discovered his shoulders and back, finding his heartbeat through his skin.

When the ground disappeared beneath her feet, she almost shrieked, before realizing he’d lifted her. He pulled her legs around his waist and positioned himself hard against the heat between her legs. She pressed against him and he moaned into her mouth. His hands slipped from her waist and grabbed a hold of her thighs as he moved against her.

Buffy’s breath caught. His movements made her shiver in delight. The sound of her blood rushing through her body was a deafening roar, and anticipation consumed her like a tidal wave.

Giles pulled his mouth from hers and placed searing open-mouthed kisses on her neck. He murmured against her skin. “It this what you want Buffy?” His tongue came out to lick her collarbone. “I want this. I want you so much, love.”

Buffy found herself almost beyond speech, as heat shimmered across her skin.

“God yes!” She moaned.

His hands slid up her thighs to cup her behind and balance her as he stepped away from the door. She clung to him as he crossed the living room with long strides. Sweet, intoxicating, pleasure spread to the tips of her fingers and toes when his mouth found hers again. He lowered her to the couch and the touch of his body never left hers as he followed her down.

Once again, he placed himself between her thighs, his right hand roaming slowly up her ribs, then covering her breast. Buffy felt as if his touch caught her on fire and whimpered. Giles tore his mouth from hers and over the top of her dress, he covered her other breast with his mouth. Buffy threw her head back and moaned as his tongue teased her nipple through the wet fabric of her dress.

She grabbed the edge of his shirt, and pulled it out of his pants, eager to feel his body. When she revealed his bare skin, her hands roamed frantically, digging into his back as he bit her nipple carefully. She felt his erection pressing against her core, and pushed against him.

He groaned, and his right hand slipped from her breast. It brushed against her stomach as he lifted himself from her. He found the hem of her dress, pushed it up around her waist and covered her mound with his hand.

Buffy gasped loudly and buried her hands in his hair. Desire ripped through her. Never had she desired a man’s touch as she did Giles’. As if he sensed her plea, his fingers started stroking her with a firm pressure. Buffy bit her lip as she got closer to the edge. She tried to hold back what was about to come, to prolong her pleasure. But the sensation of his mouth and tongue against her breast with his fingers stroking her was too much. Far too soon, she tumbled over the edge.

Giles mumbled soothing words into her ear and stroked her hair as she came down from pleasurable heights. Buffy gasped for air, and clung to his shoulders. When she came back to her senses, she reached for him and opened her eyes. Her gaze met his, heavily veiled by desire, and she pulled his head down for a kiss. He merely let their lips brush softly a few times, refusing to let their kiss deepen. He released her lips and brushed his own gently against her heated skin, before raising his head.

“We should slow this down,” he said in a hoarse voice.

She was about to protest when he kissed her hard, clearly showing her that he still very much wanted her. When she once again found herself gasping for air, he let go of her mouth.

“I still want you, Buffy. NEVER doubt that. We took some of the edge off, and that was probably good, but we should take this a little bit slower.”

“Took the edge off?” Buffy grinned and bucked against him. “It still feels like there’s some edge left in you.”

Giles moaned and rested his head on her neck. She almost laughed out loud when he whimpered against her collar. She slowed her hips, but didn’t quite stop, as she trailed her fingers through his hair. His hand shot down to her thigh and stilled her movements. “Yes, you’re right about that, but I can wait.”

He lifted his head and kissed her softly. “I’ve got a taste of what’s in store for us, but I want our first time to be special Buffy, Not in a heated frenzy on the couch, soaking wet and cold.”

As soon as he mentioned it, Buffy did feel slightly cold. She snuggled closer Giles and realized they were both rather wet. Giles’ hair was rumpled and there was a flush on his cheeks. He was gorgeous.

He kissed her again sweetly and murmured against her lips. “Let me make this special for us, love.”

Buffy was awed at his self-restraint. She could feel the heat coming from his body, she could see the desire in his eyes and feel it pressing against her. She would have gladly done it right there, chilled and slightly uncomfortable, if he’d wanted to. Still, she wanted their first time to be special, and nodded happily. He gave her another kiss, before resting his head in the crook of her neck, again.

Buffy stroked his back, making sure to keep her caresses soft and not arousing. “Are you going to be ok?”

Giles chuckled into her neck and nodded. “I’ll live. I can just take a cold shower.”

Buffy laughed. “Poor Giles.”

He raised his head. “Trust me, love, I am very blissful right now.” He looked down at himself and back up at her with a grin. “Slightly. . . ah… . .uncomfortable, but still blissful.”

Buffy pulled him into a tight hug, closing her eyes tight to prevent happy tears from spilling.

“Me too.” His touch had been the most amazing experience she’d ever had, and made her love him even more. If that were even possible.

Giles tightened his arms around her and murmured into her neck. “Will you go away with me this weekend, Buffy?”

She smiled happily into his hair. “Oh, yes! Can we leave right now?” She asked hopefully. It was worth a shot, she figured with a grin.

Giles laughed. “There’s noting I would love more, but we don’t have reservations anywhere, and it’s quite a trip. Can you wait till tomorrow?” He asked, with an impish tone in his voice.

Buffy rumpled him slightly, making him laugh again, before sighing dramatically. “Okay, if we must.”

Giles raised himself and pressed closer, brushing his nose against hers before kissing her. “Doesn’t mean we can’t make tonight special.”

At her hopeful look he quickly added, with a smile, “Not THAT special.”

Buffy grinned, and then pouted theatrically. Giles stroked her cheek and offered, “Let me take you to dinner. Wine and dine you.” He gave her a wicked look. “Maybe even take a little advantage of you.” He grinned at her pleased smile. “Would you like that?”

In response, Buffy squealed in delight and pulled him into a breathtaking kiss. Giles moaned before pulling away. “Now I really need a cold shower.”

Buffy laughed as she watched him run for the bathroom. As he disappeared from her view, she stretched on the couch, feeling quite sated. She was definitely looking forward to being taking advantage of by him. Maybe she could even take a little advantage of him, she thought, with a huge grin on her face.

TBC