Chapter 1: I'll Stand By You

It had been about two weeks since the birth of Theresa Annabelle Summers. Buffy and Giles had both agreed that the child should carry the Summers' last name, as it would be more likely to strike fear into the hearts of the demons who wanted to hurt her. Buffy and the baby had bonded, and she was enjoying her new life as a mother. Giles visited her and the baby several times a day, but the pair of them had not yet taken their relationship to the next level. It was still in the awkward 'I-love-you-but-I-can't-be-with-you-yet' phase. She knew she loved him, but her fear of being abandoned again was keeping her from getting to close. She didn't know how much longer the pair of them would be playing that game, but she knew she wanted to be close again. She hated it every time he left, and she didn't feel better until he came back.

Her mind was racing through the complications of the relationship between her and Giles as she sat in her bedroom with Tessa in her arms. The baby had finally drifted off to sleep after ten minutes of solid crying. She always got fussy after Giles left. Buffy could see that the baby had developed an attachment for it's father, and she was glad that Tessa was partial to him. Buffy had thought it might be weird for the baby to have a strange man showing up every once in a while to see her, but Tessa had adjusted well to it. Buffy sighed as she stood up, and moved to the bassinet that was now sitting in her room, placing the baby inside. Buffy allowed herself to gaze down at the beautiful gift she had been blessed with.

She heard footsteps in the hall and looked up to see Giles standing in the doorway. She smiled, and moved away from the bassinet towards the door, tilting her head to the side.

"I thought you were leaving."

"I did. But, I changed my mind about half way down the block."

He took her hand and pulled her out into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind her so that Tessa wouldn't wake up. He looked back down at Buffy, speaking once again. She tilted her head to the side as he spoke, not being able to hide the grin that had formed on her face. She was happy he had decided to come back. She was getting to be about like Tessa. She couldn't feel safe until he was in her prescience again.

"I have something I want to ask you and you can object to it if you desire."

"Okay...What's up?"

"I wanted to know if you would like to eat dinner with me tonight. At my apartment, without Tessa."

She crossed her arms over her chest as she pondered over the question that she had just been asked. She couldn't believe what he was asking, because it sounded like he was asking her on a date. Giles and Buffy had never had a real date. The last time she had been at his apartment they had ended up having sex and Tessa was the wonderful outcome of that situation. But, she liked the idea. A date sounded normal, and she needed that stability now. She also knew that they couldn't keep up this tug of war of sexual tension for much longer. Something was bound to happen sooner or later if they kept it up this way. She nodded, allowing the smile to return to her face.

"I would love that."

"Great. That's – wonderful."

"I will ask Willow if she can watch Dawn and Tessa for me."

"All right. I will be back around seven-thirty?"

"Sounds good to me."

She grinned and leaned up, kissing his cheek. She moved from his cheek, and landed a small kiss to his lips. It was only a small peck, but it spoke volumes about how much she felt for him. He held her close to him, kissing her back just as softly. It took all the control of all his muscles to keep from throwing her against the wall behind her and having his way with her. And a part of him thought Buffy was holding back as well, but he didn't know for sure. She pulled away first, looking down at the floor before letting her eyes wonder back to him. She raised a small hand to his face, her voice shaking as she spoke

"I missed that when you were gone."

"So did I. Buffy -"

She raised a finger to his lips, before smiling. The little blonde Slayer was up to her old tricks again. She knew exactly how to keep them reeled in and wanting more. Giles had seen it done to other guys, Angel mostly, time and time again. And it was an effective strategy, and was working well on him. She leaned in and kissed him one more time, before pulling away and walking back towards her door. She wanted to let him in. She wanted him to return back to the place in her heart, but she was still afraid. She opened the door and turned back to him, smiling.

"We will talk tonight. I promise. I will see you then."

"Right. Of course."

He nodded, trying to keep his face from flustering any further. She was a tease, but he could deal with it for now. But, if she kept it up for much longer he was going to have to teach her a lesson about teasing. He turned back headed back to the stairs, but stopped as soon as he heard her sweet voice ringing in his ears.

"Giles?"

"Yes?"

He turned as she called his name, hoping beyond hope that she would ask him to stay with her. But, he knew that she wouldn't. From the look on her face, he thought that she just wanted to tell him something before he left. She walked back over to him, smiling as she let the words fall from her lips.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Buffy."

"I will see you tonight, okay?"

"Yes."

She gave him a hug, trying her best to ignore the feelings of desire that began to burn inside of her from the close body contact. He returned her hug, kissing her forehead as he was accustomed to doing before pulling off and walking back down the stairs. She sighed, shaking her head as she heard the crying from her bedroom. She needed this date more than she was willing to admit as she made her way back to Tessa. Maybe tonight would change things. Maybe she would finally be able to let him back in. She prayed that it would be so, because she didn't know how much longer she could take not being close to him.

Buffy stood in her bedroom, looking through her closet to try and find the perfect outfit for her date with Giles. The word still felt strange in her head, but it sent chills of excitement through her body. Buffy hadn't been on a real date since Riley had left, and that was over a year ago. She was experiencing first hand the same thing her mother had gone through after her and her father had divorced. She didn't envy her then, and now she didn't envy herself. It did make things a little easier that the man she loved was still in her life.

Willow, Tara and Dawn all stood behind her as Buffy had asked for their help in picking out an outfit. Dawn was glad that Buffy and Giles were finally moving forward because it had been rather awkward since he had come back. Dawn may have only been sixteen years old, but even she knew that the pair of them had sexual tension out the ass building up. Willow and Tara agreed with Dawn though. They both wanted them to be happy, and to wake up and smell the attraction between them. Buffy pulled out a small little black dress that stopped a little above her knees, and a longer red dress that would leave every part of her body hidden.

"Okay girls. Which one?"

"Well, the red one looks like you belong in a convent and the black one gives out a 'come hither' vibe. Which one you going for?"

Tara playfully smacked Dawn on the shoulder, and Dawn looked at her and shrugged her shoulders.

"Come hither? And that is why I didn't want the sixteen year old in here. Willow, what do you think?"
"I like the black one. It looks more Buffy-esque..."

"Is that code for Buffy is a tramp?"

"No! Buffy, you know I didn't mean it like that."

"I know, Willow. I'm picking. Okay Tara, what's your vote?"

"The black one..."

"I have a feeling you three are wanting me to get laid tonight."

She rolled her eyes and placed the red dress back into her closet, closing the door behind her. She walked over to her bed and laid the dress out, before looking back at her friends who tried their best to look innocent. Buffy wasn't buy a minute of it. She sighed and crossed her arms before speaking one again.

"Buffy, we just want you to be happy....and honestly, the sexual tension you two have built up right now is enough to make us all uncomfortable. Don't you think you've punished him enough?"

"I've not been trying to punish him, Will. I just – I'm scared, okay?"

"Yes, we get that. But, I think he learned his lesson the first time. I don't think he's gonna leave again."

"I hope not, Dawn. I couldn't handle it."

"Well, if you don't let him love you he is going to leave again. You know that."

Buffy nodded as her sister leaned down and gave her a hug. She pulled away and smiled, speaking once more.

"Do you want some help getting ready? I could – Do your makeup?"

"Dawn, I have done this before. And you're stalling. Go finish your math homework."

Dawn grumbled as she wondered off back down the hall to her bedroom. Tara, who was holding little Tessa in her arms, followed Dawn after she had left. Buffy looked back at Willow, who had joined her on the bed.

"She just wants you to be happy, Buff."

"I know, Willow. It's just strange talking to your sixteen year old sister about that kind of stuff."

"Yes, Buffy, but she's not a baby anymore. Give her some slack."

Buffy nodded and looked down at the dress laying on the bed. She knew she had only worn it a few times, and she had bought it in the first place for one reason and one reason alone. It was a attention getter, and she had a feeling it would definitely grab Giles' attention. She sighed and looked back at Willow who had got up and walked towards the door.

"Do you really think I'm ready to let him back in, Will?"

"I don't know, Buffy. I can't tell you what's in your heart. I just think you should let what is going to happen, happen and stop fighting your passions. It's just making you both miserable. And you never know, he could surprise you."

Buffy knew that Willow was right. It was time to stop fighting it, and let what was going to happen between her and Giles happen. She had a feeling she wouldn't be coming home that night, but the others probably knew that as well. She would miss Tessa, but it would do her some good to get out of the house and have a life again. She picked up the little black dress and made up her mind. Tonight would be the night that she let everything go. She was still scared that Giles would leave her again, but she would have to trust him. After all, if she didn't try and trust him she never would. She let her jeans fall to the floor as she began to get ready for her first date with Giles. And from what she had in mind, it would be a night to remember.