Reunion (CH7)

Confessions

Buffy was confused. Until two days ago, she never thought of Giles as more than her teacher and friend. In fact, she didn't even think about him period! She was so furious with him when he told her he would be returning to England on a permanent basis. But she knew then, there was nothing she could have done to stop him. Or was there? Seducing Giles into staying would have been wrong (Then!). She didn't have these feelings before and to be honest, she didn't really know how to deal or react to them. Her mind rewound to the Carousel and the kiss they shared…

~~"I know, but I wish you could have stayed. I wanted you to stay…I…" She paused, turning to him completely, "Giles, you have always been there for me. You could have left me anytime you wanted, even when I lied to you about Angel, but you stayed…stay now. Stay for me. Don't go back to England."

He nodded, "You know I can't stay here. This assignment is only temporary. After it's finished, I have to return."

She scowled, standing up. Buffy glared back at him, "Then return to England. Why bother here? Why bother come back to something that's meaningless to you?"

Giles stood up, staring down at her, nodding, "You are not meaningless, Buffy. You were - are my Slayer."

~~

"I wish I could say the right words to lead you through this land. Wish I could play the father and take you by the hand. Wish I could stay here; nut now I understand I'm standing in the way… I wish I could lay your arms down and let you rest at last. Wish I could slay your demons but I'm just standing in your way." He sang.

Buffy stared back at him before she grasped his hand. He leaned down, kissing her lightly. She flinched back, with an odd expression on her face. It almost said, 'what, was that?' She turned and ran away, not looking back this time. ~~

Buffy closed her eyes, touching her lips. She didn't expect him to kiss her, but then again, she never expected him to return to Sunnydale and to her…But oh, that kiss! It was so passionate, so sweet it made her melt. If Buffy had stayed in the house, instead of walking out the door, she didn't know what could have happened.

WRONG! She knew. They were so close, very close but she wasn't ready for that (though it was very tempting). She just wasn't ready for that kind of intimacy, not yet. She had been hurt too many times to lose her heart again, even though she knew Giles would never intentionally hurt her. Buffy froze, turned back, biting her lip. Should she? She didn't even know if he was still there. If he wasn't…

No, she couldn't think about that. She couldn't lose him again.

~~

Giles paced back and forth in the Summers' living room. The Englishman was baffled. He knew he always loved Buffy, but this feeling inside…what was it? Lust? He didn't think so. Giles had always respected Buffy but still, what was it? Why did he feel this way?

"Giles!" Buffy cried as she burst through the door. Giles ran to the foyer, staring back at her. The two of them stared at each other for the longest time before Buffy jumped into his arms, straddling her legs around his waist, kissing him. "I couldn't. I couldn't walk away…I don't know what this is but I know when you kissed me, I felt something." Her head twisted as she whispered in his ear, "I want to feel it again…I want to…make love to me, Rupert."

Giles let go, staring back at her. "What about what you said? I don't want to force you into anything you're unsure about…"

Buffy raised a finger, placing it over his lips. Giles kissed it and she blushed. "I want to." She glanced up the stairs a moment before letting go of his hand, walking upstairs. Giles gulped, following her…

TBC