As the sun rose the next morning, the couple lay fast asleep in each other's arms, stretched out on their picnic blanket and covered by another blanket Willow had managed to slip in with their supplies. The air was clear and the sky that greeted them was a flawless blue. Giles was the first to stir. As he woke, he absently reached over to find his watch and check the time. As soon as he read the dial, he turned back to Willow. "Willow," he whispered. "It's time to get up." The redhead just gave a sleepy sigh and adjusted her position. "Willow," Giles said more insistently.

"Five more minutes, Mom," she breathed. Giles kissed her on the forehead. She instantly opened her eyes. "Couldn't you play along?"

"You know I can't, love. It's already past seven, and if we don't leave soon, you'll be late to class. I wouldn't want to be a bad influence on your education, now would I?"

"Sir, yes, sir," Willow said as she mock-saluted him.

"Riley should never have taught you that," Giles groaned. Willow laughed as she pushed aside their cover and began to gather her clothes to dress and Giles quickly followed her lead. The two remained in silence before Willow finally spoke up after she leaned over to hug Giles, who squeezed her in return.

"Last night was perfect, Giles," she whispered into his ear. "You were perfect."

"Wasn't that the plan," Giles corrected her.

"Yeah, but it's always nice to see a plan to so well, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is, Willow. Indeed it is." He gave her another squeeze before he went back to tying his shoes. Willow herself was in the process of buttoning her blouse when a thought hit her.

"Did you ever imagine, in your wildest dreams, that last night could have happened, I mean, before it all began," she asked as she finished with the last button. Giles looked up from his nearly tied shoelace to answer her.

"No, actually I hadn't. At least not in a way that I would ever have admitted to myself."

"Me either, I mean the not admitting part. Funny, isn't it?" Giles smiled as he sat back on their blanket.

"One thing I've learned about living in this town, Willow, is that you never know what surprises, or terrors, tomorrow can bring. It always brings some new horror or joy, always unexpected. Like us. Like the fact that I've fallen in love with you." Willow was slightly startled by the suddenness last part, but soon a smile crept across her face.

"I love you, too, Giles." He gently leaned forward to meet her mouth in a kiss. "This is nice," Willow commented as they parted.

"And I intend to try and keep it that way," Giles promised as he started to gather the supplies surrounding them.

"You'd better, mister," Willow added as she pitched in. "I still have an outstanding invitation with a vengeance demon, you know."

"I have no idea what you're referring to," Giles said innocently. Willow glared at him.

"Ha, Ha. One more crack like that and I'll tell Anya what happened here last night. It would be very interesting to see what she has to say about that, wouldn't it, Giles," Willow mused.

"That's cold, Willow," Giles returned. She gave him a wicked grin as she began to pick up the supplies she had gathered.

"I know," she said cheerily as she began to head in the direction of Giles' car. Giles shook his head as he picked up the remaining supplies and followed Willow. As they walked on, chatting happily along the way, a realization hit Willow. "This isn't going to last, is it? The whole 'nice' thing?" Giles looked into the face of the melancholy face of the woman beside him.

"No," Giles admitted sadly. He looked into Willow deep green eyes. "But I for one intend to enjoy it while it lasts." Willow's face perked up.

"Does that mean that you'll let me drive, because I'd really enjoy that, Giles," she pleaded.

"I've created a monster," he groaned.

"Yeah, but at least you got a sexy, redheaded one," Willow pointed out. Giles chuckled.

"That I did, Willow. That I did," he agreed.

The End
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