I hope you enjoy reading. Think outside the box!

Thanks goes out to Rippertish here on FF - you're an amazing chickie, thank you so much!

pssssttttt!

I was inspired by the song 'What would happen..' by Meredith Brooks

Chapter 1

What would happen...

"I'm sorry, Buffy," he spoke in almost a silent whisper before pausing, he then lowered his head because he couldn't bare to look her in the eyes anymore, seeing the obvious hurt, the suffering, in them, knowing damn well what he was doing to her, "I wish I could stay, but I can't, I just can't."

"I-I need to go", his tone of voice sounded strict, urgent, almost as if he, himself, had trouble realizing that he would indeed be leaving soon, leaving the ScoobieGang, more importantly, leaving her – all alone, abandoning her after all they've been through - together.

With his heart dangerously throbbing in his chest, he rose to his feet. He still avoided any sort of eye contact with her as he tried to make his way towards the door, hands in his pockets, however, Buffy wasn't just going to give in, let him actually leave and never see him return again.

She stood in his way, putting a halt in his track by placing her hand tenderly on his chest as her eyes demanded him to look at her, staring intensely as tears swelled up, "Please, stay. Isn't there anything I can do to stop you?"

"No..," his eyes were fixated onto something on his left for a brief moment before turning his focus back onto her, but still fearing to meet her eyes, "Please, Buffy, don't make it any harder for me than it already is..."

"It's hard for you?," she suddenly blurted out as she took a few steps backwards, the anger suddenly brewing inside of her, she knew he was British and sometimes failed to understand her, but such a selfish act was way out of line, even for him, "How dare you call it hard for you! You come here barging in as if you own the damn place, abruptly inform us, without any difficulties whatsoever, that you're leaving us and you just suspect me to accept it like the good, little girl that I am?"

"Buffy, please –", Giles began, slowly approaching her as he raised one of his hands up to touch her.

Buffy backed out even further, reluctant to feel his delicate touch, the warmth of his skin touching hers, because she knew that, whenever she was upset with him, he always tried to comfort her by touching her ever so gently, so softly, so comfortably on the shoulder or by cupping one of her cheeks, that she immediately cheered up and forgave him for his silly actions. But she knew she couldn't forgive him now – he was leaving her, she felt abandoned, all alone, he used to be the one who truly understood her, their bond as a Watcher and Slayer had been special, something unheard off, something others wouldn't quite understand, wouldn't quite understand her. Yet, he did.

But perhaps, it wasn't as special as she had hoped for, because he was still leaving her to go back to that god-awful place in the middle of nowhere. Great-Britain my ass. What was so special about it that she couldn't offer him, no – wait, what the United States of America could no longer provide for him?

"Don't please me, Giles!," Buffy cut him off before the tears finally reached the surface and started to flow down her face, she immediately went through her weak knees, burying her face deeply into her hands to preserve the last remaining bit of dignity she still had, pleading desperately in just a shallow whisper, "Why can't you just stay?"

Giles' face softened as he immediately squatted down beside her, giving her a somewhat regrettable look. "Buffy," he begun as he slowly started to cup one of her cheeks in a loving manner, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear in the progress, "You know I don't enjoy seeing you like this. It has never been my intention to hurt you. I hope you realize that, but I do feel that I've been unintentionally hurting you for quite some time now. I'm standing in the way, in the way of your growth as a Slayer, but also as a strong, young and independent woman. I'll only bring forth hurt and suffering if I decide to stay."

Buffy promptly turned to face him, eyes slightly puffy and red as their gazes intensively locked. All of the sudden, it seemed right, seemed almost ... perfect, it seemed all right. They looked into each other's eyes for quite some time, just staring, intensely, practically emotionless expressions and both still quite seemed to long for each other.

Their stares intensified as she suddenly started to lean in. Giles mirrored her movement straightaway, approaching her as well. Her eyes were now directed at his, what she imagined to be, soft and sensitive lips. Soon, both of his hands were cupping her face as her hands roughly pulled him closer to her body by pulling on his shirt. Their lips were less than an inch removed from each other, almost touching each other when she looked up, meeting his pleading glare.

To Be Continued...