Title: Parting Gifts 4/5
Author: Luisa
Rating: R
Disclaimer/Notes: As in Part 1
Disclaimer: Everyone from the Buffyverse belongs to Joss and M.E. "Stuck on You" belongs to Lionel Richie and Brockman Music. "Never had a Dream Come True" written by C. Dennis/S.Ellis published by EMI.
Part 4: A Dream Come True
The club was packed to bursting.
*Huh, Giles is obviously popular* Buffy thought, as she passed her money to the man at the door.
She slid silently into an unnoticed spare seat at the very back, settling herself behind a tall man so that Giles wouldn't see her and be distracted. Giles was just coming to the end of a song, and she sat back, enjoying his dulcet tones wash over her:
"Oh, I'm leaving on that midnight train tomorrow
And I know just where I'm going
I've packed up my troubles and I've thrown them all away
'Cause this time little darling
I'm coming home to stay
I'm stuck on you
I've got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose
Guess I'm on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I'll be with you 'til the end
Guess I'm on my way
I'm mighty glad you stayed"
*I hope that he is coming home to stay.*
She couldn't help the lone tear that escaped her closed eyes as she recalled the emptiness without him, falling softly into her lap.
"More!" the crowd cried, over the gentle sniffing of the ladies who felt moved to tears by such a wonderful gentleman.
He took off his guitar and replaced it on its stand. "I...I'll be b... back after a q... quick drink" the man replied, beginning to move off the stage.
*How sweet,* Buffy couldn't help thinking, *that he still stutters. He's still my Giles*
The crowd was unrelenting and Giles could begin to feel a tinge of red creep up towards his ears.
From her position at the back of the hall, Buffy gave a wistful smile, as his glasses came off and his hankie was pulled out of his pocket to polish them with fervour. Still looking down at his hands, he began his stuttering again as the Emcee joined him on stage, preventing his planned exit.
"I... er..." he cleared his throat and replaced his glasses, "That is to say... I don't have anything extra planned for this half."
The Emcee chuckled, putting an arm around Giles' shoulders and drawing him back to where his guitar laid waiting, almost looking sympathetic. Giles sighed, and reluctantly resumed his position, asking into the microphone before he sat: "Are there any requests?"
The Emcee regarded Giles with interest, and lowered his microphone as the audience began calling out their favourites.
"What would be your request if someone asked you?"
Giles looked bashfully away, replying more to himself than the Emcee, so that the audience couldn't hear, "That Buffy was here."
The Emcee gave Giles a nudge, winking, "I did mean song request, but nevertheless, is she your special lady?"
Another bashful turn of the head was the only indication that Giles heard the question being asked of him. The Emcee persisted, "Is she here?"
Giles replied in a voice tinged with sadness and regret, "She's in America."
The Emcee didn't respond to this solemn but talented man directly, but returned to his microphone, inspired.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologise for the delay. I suggest you make a note of your requests, as we shall take them later. For now however, Rupert Giles will perform a song of his choice, for his special lady Buffy, all the way across the ocean in America."
Buffy's heart leapt into her throat.
*He's doing a song for me?*
Fresh tears trickled over her cheeks in happiness at the thought that this man she loved so much would do something so romantic for her.
A collective sigh swept the room, as the women - married and single - realised that this handsome man was taken.
The taxi driver having put two and two together, shot Buffy an inquisitive look from his standing position at the other side of the entrance. Buffy didn't notice, focusing only on her love sitting on the stage tuning his guitar, peeking though a gap between the people in front of her.
*Giles.*
Giles was desperately casting around in his mind for a familiar song that would reflect his feelings for Buffy. He knew he was stalling, but he also knew this audience. They loved the emotion as much as the tune or the words.
*If Buffy were here, what could I possibly say or sing to her to make everything right between us again?*
Suddenly it clicked. Traces of a tune he'd heard on the radio only yesterday flitted through his memory.
*I wonder if I can remember it all*
He plucked a few strings as the chords came to him, grateful that he had such a good recall. Giles pulled his stool over to the microphone, suddenly feeling awkward again.
"L... L... Ladies and G... Gentlemen." *What should I say?*
"This is called 'Never had a Dream' and it's for. for the one I love."
Buffy felt emotion rush through her at his words. She didn't recognise the title. She settled back, and listened to his soothing voice once more.
"Everybody's got something
They had to leave behind.
One regret from yesterday
That just seems to grow with time.
There's no use looking back or wondering
How it could be now or might have been
All this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go"
The tears fell freely as Buffy realised that he truly was singing to her, and what it was he was saying. She tried to discreetly wipe the tears away, but gave up, instead rubbing at her eyes fiercely with her sleeve as the chorus touched her deeper still.
"I never had a dream come true,
'Til the day that I found you
Even though I pretend that I've moved on
You'll always be my baby"
She couldn't help but risk another peek through the gap again, and was amazed at the passion she saw there.
"I never found the words to say
You're the one I think about each day
And I know no matter where life takes me to
A part of me will always be with you."
Many women were already openly weeping. This was a song most of them had heard before, but not with this much emotion. Their hearts went out to this man who was obviously in so much pain.
The men were also getting agitated. They were berating themselves for starting the call for an encore, and wondering why Rupert Giles had chosen such an emotional song. Giles paid no attention to the soft weeping and
mutterings, lost in his world of pain.
"Somewhere in my memory
I've lost all sense of time.
And tomorrow can never be
'Cause yesterday is all that fills my mind
There's no use looking back and wondering
How it could be now or might have been
All this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go"
He launched into the chorus again, the tears refusing to be held back any longer. A matching set of tears flowed from Buffy's eyes.
*Oh Giles, how can you love me like this after everything I've done to you? Why did you leave and not talk this through? Don't you want to know how I feel?*
As Giles played through the instrumental, a battle started taking place within Buffy. Should she say something? Do something? Let him know she was here? She desperately wanted to end his misery. He began the final stanza, glad that the song was almost over, wanting desperately to hole up somewhere far from here where he could let it all out.
*You stupid fool, stop crying - I know they want emotion, but this is hinging on instability. They'll never ask you back here again. Just get it over and done with.*
"You'll always be the dream that fills my head
You'll always be the one I know I'll never forget.
There's no use looking back, or wondering
Because love is a strange and funny thing
No matter how I try and try
I just can't say good bye"
He should have gone back to the chorus. He knew that, but somehow a sob managed to escape him against his will, and while his hands automatically played the chord sequence for the chorus, he stopped singing, feeling his heart breaking a little more. He bowed his head, trying to conceal the tears.
Buffy could contain herself no longer and her internal war was won as she decided to do all she could to end his hurt and loneliness, not caring if she made a public spectacle of herself. She stood abruptly, startling those nearby, and began to walk between the closely-knit audience.
Giles heard movements within the audience but didn't lift his head, thinking perhaps someone was coming to throw him out for his unprofessional performance. That, or cart him off to a psychiatrist. Then he heard her.
"Giles."
He would know that beautiful voice anywhere; so loud yet so gentle, so impassioned yet so clear.
*Buffy?*
He shook his head, knowing she was miles away.
The gentle voice persisted, "Giles, look at me."
Hushed voices began in the club, each person whispering to their neighbour, each wondering who this girl was. He kept his head down, refusing to let the voice in his head make a fool out of him.
*Still, I seem to be doing a bloody good job of that, myself.*
However, he couldn't stop himself responding, "Buffy?"
The voices of the audience suddenly rose, he was more aware of them this time.
"Buffy?"
"Did he say, Buffy?"
"This is the girl the song was for?"
"Mummy? What did Mr Giles mean she's in America? She's right here."
This last comment came from a young girl somewhere near Giles' feet. He lifted an arm, brushing away the last of his tears, and looked down at the girl, still unable to face the rest of the audience.
"What did you say?" He asked roughly.
The little girl rose from her seat and walked the edge of the stage, sticking out a trusting hand, silently urging him to take it. Having given up on completing the song, Giles removed his guitar, placing it on the stand beside him. He then moved to the front of the stage with two easy strides, focusing only on the child, embarrassed by his outburst of emotion and unable to look at any of the audience. Upon reaching her, he bent down and clasped the little girl's hand with hope.
Buffy stopped as she reached the aisle, watching this exchange. The whispering had stopped too, she noticed. It was as if the audience were holding a collective breath, waiting for a love scene to unfold before their eyes, both she and they unaware it would. Both men and women were equally enthralled.
The little girl pulled on Giles' hand and pointed at Buffy.
"Mr Giles, I asked my mummy why you said your girlfriend was in America when she's standing just there."
He couldn't help himself looking, and his heart suddenly beat double-time as he realised the vision he beheld was not wavering or fading as his dreams so often did. He clutched the little girl's hand tighter, as if she were his lifeline.
"Buffy? You. You're really here? But... how?"
She could only run to him down the small aisle, his name passing her lips with emotion.
"Giles."
Hearing her speak his name so lovingly, so forgivingly did more to him than any drug he knew. His heart soared, his breath caught, and suddenly he was riding a wave of euphoria. He let go of the small hand in his, and slid off the stage as the child returned to her mother.
"Buffy" he managed to choke out, as he threw his arms around her waist, a fresh round of tears beginning, although this time the regret was mingled with happiness. He sobbed into her shoulder for a minute, before remembering something.
"Buffy, I expect you heard... my... dedication. I'm sorry. I know you don't..."
She quickly cut him off.
"Giles, don't you dare say what I think you're thinking. You've hardly surprised me. Especially considering the" she lowered her voice, "detailed letters you left me."
"Oh Buffy, I'm sorry. You were never meant to."
She cut him off again.
"Giles you don't get it, do you? Why do you think I'm here, suffering really badly from jet lag, listening to your sexy voice sing to me? Why do think I've travelled all this way? Just to try English Tea?"
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and he pulled back shaking his head, as if the thought of why she was here hadn't occurred to him.
"I've come to take you home, Giles."
She pressed a soft kiss on his forehead before continuing, "You can't tell me I don't feel the same as you, so don't try." He opened and closed his mouth like a codfish as she carried on, "I've loved you since you tried to stop me from facing the M..." she stopped, suddenly aware of the crowd, but he knew what she was referring to.
"I just never knew you felt the same. Whatever caused you to leave me those letters instead of whatever you intended - I'm thankful for it. Otherwise you'd still be miserable here and I'd still be miserable in Sunnydale. Giles, I love you."
"Oh, Buffy."
It came out as a moan as he pulled her to him.
"I love you too."
And there, in front of about 150 people, Buffy and Giles shared their first kiss. He pressed his lips gently to hers, feeling electricity suddenly pulse through him, tightening his hold on her reflexively. They simultaneously felt fire travel through them, and Buffy squirmed in his grasp at the sensations. They pulled apart gasping for breath for only
seconds before capturing each other's mouths hungrily in passion-fuelled kisses.
Buffy moaned into Giles' mouth, glorying in the breathtaking feelings he was invoking in her. He kissed her back with wild abandon, as he felt answering heat within him.
*Oh Buffy. Oh God, I love you. I swear I will never leave you again.*
He tugged at her lip gently, feeling the fire roar in his ears. She whimpered into his mouth as he continued to ravage her, having completely forgotten their surroundings and the fact that there were children nearby, until they became aware of the sound of rapturous applause. They broke apart, embarrassed, gazing into each other's eyes as the clapping continued. Buffy whispered conspiratorially to him, "I bet you wouldn't believe me if I told you that I hadn't wanted to cause a scene."
Giles chuckled then hugged her fiercely.
"I expect you wouldn't believe that I'm very glad you did."
"I never knew you were such an exhibitionist!" she teased him.
The Emcee's voice over the P.A. interrupted their whispering.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe the entertainment for tonight is over."
He turned toward Giles again and winked at him.
"There are, as always, drinks available from the bar. I apologise that the performance has been disrupted, but I hope you continue to enjoy your evening. I sure know two people who will."
He gave Giles another wink and a thumbs-up sign with his free hand. The audience began enthusiastically applauding again, delighted that this man who had captured their hearts and imaginations so deeply since he'd arrived
four months ago had found happiness with the woman he loved.
As the audience dispersed, the Emcee returned his microphone to its stand, and walked casually down the steps to the couple that were still entangled in each other's arms at the foot of the stage. Giles greeted him with an apology.
"George, I'm ever so sorry for disrupting the evening. Please accept tonight's profits by way of my apology. I've already received my payment."
He hugged Buffy to him again while George shrugged Giles' apology off, slapping him good-heartedly on the back. When he caught his breath, Giles continued.
"Could I trouble you to look after my guitar for the night? I shall collect it in the morning. In the meantime, I believe Buffy has some explaining to do."
He extracted himself from Buffy's arm, and reached a hand toward the other gentleman. George shook it enthusiastically.
"Rupert, I shall be more than delighted to assist you in anyway I can. By all means, collect your guitar at any time tomorrow. I'm sure you have far more important things to discuss."
He gave another wink. Buffy was beginning to wonder if this guy had an eye problem.
He turned to Buffy. "It has been an absolute pleasure meeting you, Miss."
"Summers" she supplied.
"Miss Summers. I wish you and Rupert many years of happiness."
With a final shake of Giles' hand, he turned to tend to his customers. Buffy looked at Giles with wide eyes as he put his jacket on.
"Giles, do all Brits talk like you? You know, with the long winded speeches and all?"
He wasn't quite sure how to take that, so he simply laughed.
"Oh Buffy, it is good to hear your voice again. Even if you are complaining."
Before she could retort, he swept her into his arms, out of the building.
As the cool night air greeted them, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"You think my voice is sexy?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Luisa
Rating: R
Disclaimer/Notes: As in Part 1
Disclaimer: Everyone from the Buffyverse belongs to Joss and M.E. "Stuck on You" belongs to Lionel Richie and Brockman Music. "Never had a Dream Come True" written by C. Dennis/S.Ellis published by EMI.
Part 4: A Dream Come True
The club was packed to bursting.
*Huh, Giles is obviously popular* Buffy thought, as she passed her money to the man at the door.
She slid silently into an unnoticed spare seat at the very back, settling herself behind a tall man so that Giles wouldn't see her and be distracted. Giles was just coming to the end of a song, and she sat back, enjoying his dulcet tones wash over her:
"Oh, I'm leaving on that midnight train tomorrow
And I know just where I'm going
I've packed up my troubles and I've thrown them all away
'Cause this time little darling
I'm coming home to stay
I'm stuck on you
I've got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose
Guess I'm on my way
Needed a friend
And the way I feel now I guess I'll be with you 'til the end
Guess I'm on my way
I'm mighty glad you stayed"
*I hope that he is coming home to stay.*
She couldn't help the lone tear that escaped her closed eyes as she recalled the emptiness without him, falling softly into her lap.
"More!" the crowd cried, over the gentle sniffing of the ladies who felt moved to tears by such a wonderful gentleman.
He took off his guitar and replaced it on its stand. "I...I'll be b... back after a q... quick drink" the man replied, beginning to move off the stage.
*How sweet,* Buffy couldn't help thinking, *that he still stutters. He's still my Giles*
The crowd was unrelenting and Giles could begin to feel a tinge of red creep up towards his ears.
From her position at the back of the hall, Buffy gave a wistful smile, as his glasses came off and his hankie was pulled out of his pocket to polish them with fervour. Still looking down at his hands, he began his stuttering again as the Emcee joined him on stage, preventing his planned exit.
"I... er..." he cleared his throat and replaced his glasses, "That is to say... I don't have anything extra planned for this half."
The Emcee chuckled, putting an arm around Giles' shoulders and drawing him back to where his guitar laid waiting, almost looking sympathetic. Giles sighed, and reluctantly resumed his position, asking into the microphone before he sat: "Are there any requests?"
The Emcee regarded Giles with interest, and lowered his microphone as the audience began calling out their favourites.
"What would be your request if someone asked you?"
Giles looked bashfully away, replying more to himself than the Emcee, so that the audience couldn't hear, "That Buffy was here."
The Emcee gave Giles a nudge, winking, "I did mean song request, but nevertheless, is she your special lady?"
Another bashful turn of the head was the only indication that Giles heard the question being asked of him. The Emcee persisted, "Is she here?"
Giles replied in a voice tinged with sadness and regret, "She's in America."
The Emcee didn't respond to this solemn but talented man directly, but returned to his microphone, inspired.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologise for the delay. I suggest you make a note of your requests, as we shall take them later. For now however, Rupert Giles will perform a song of his choice, for his special lady Buffy, all the way across the ocean in America."
Buffy's heart leapt into her throat.
*He's doing a song for me?*
Fresh tears trickled over her cheeks in happiness at the thought that this man she loved so much would do something so romantic for her.
A collective sigh swept the room, as the women - married and single - realised that this handsome man was taken.
The taxi driver having put two and two together, shot Buffy an inquisitive look from his standing position at the other side of the entrance. Buffy didn't notice, focusing only on her love sitting on the stage tuning his guitar, peeking though a gap between the people in front of her.
*Giles.*
Giles was desperately casting around in his mind for a familiar song that would reflect his feelings for Buffy. He knew he was stalling, but he also knew this audience. They loved the emotion as much as the tune or the words.
*If Buffy were here, what could I possibly say or sing to her to make everything right between us again?*
Suddenly it clicked. Traces of a tune he'd heard on the radio only yesterday flitted through his memory.
*I wonder if I can remember it all*
He plucked a few strings as the chords came to him, grateful that he had such a good recall. Giles pulled his stool over to the microphone, suddenly feeling awkward again.
"L... L... Ladies and G... Gentlemen." *What should I say?*
"This is called 'Never had a Dream' and it's for. for the one I love."
Buffy felt emotion rush through her at his words. She didn't recognise the title. She settled back, and listened to his soothing voice once more.
"Everybody's got something
They had to leave behind.
One regret from yesterday
That just seems to grow with time.
There's no use looking back or wondering
How it could be now or might have been
All this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go"
The tears fell freely as Buffy realised that he truly was singing to her, and what it was he was saying. She tried to discreetly wipe the tears away, but gave up, instead rubbing at her eyes fiercely with her sleeve as the chorus touched her deeper still.
"I never had a dream come true,
'Til the day that I found you
Even though I pretend that I've moved on
You'll always be my baby"
She couldn't help but risk another peek through the gap again, and was amazed at the passion she saw there.
"I never found the words to say
You're the one I think about each day
And I know no matter where life takes me to
A part of me will always be with you."
Many women were already openly weeping. This was a song most of them had heard before, but not with this much emotion. Their hearts went out to this man who was obviously in so much pain.
The men were also getting agitated. They were berating themselves for starting the call for an encore, and wondering why Rupert Giles had chosen such an emotional song. Giles paid no attention to the soft weeping and
mutterings, lost in his world of pain.
"Somewhere in my memory
I've lost all sense of time.
And tomorrow can never be
'Cause yesterday is all that fills my mind
There's no use looking back and wondering
How it could be now or might have been
All this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go"
He launched into the chorus again, the tears refusing to be held back any longer. A matching set of tears flowed from Buffy's eyes.
*Oh Giles, how can you love me like this after everything I've done to you? Why did you leave and not talk this through? Don't you want to know how I feel?*
As Giles played through the instrumental, a battle started taking place within Buffy. Should she say something? Do something? Let him know she was here? She desperately wanted to end his misery. He began the final stanza, glad that the song was almost over, wanting desperately to hole up somewhere far from here where he could let it all out.
*You stupid fool, stop crying - I know they want emotion, but this is hinging on instability. They'll never ask you back here again. Just get it over and done with.*
"You'll always be the dream that fills my head
You'll always be the one I know I'll never forget.
There's no use looking back, or wondering
Because love is a strange and funny thing
No matter how I try and try
I just can't say good bye"
He should have gone back to the chorus. He knew that, but somehow a sob managed to escape him against his will, and while his hands automatically played the chord sequence for the chorus, he stopped singing, feeling his heart breaking a little more. He bowed his head, trying to conceal the tears.
Buffy could contain herself no longer and her internal war was won as she decided to do all she could to end his hurt and loneliness, not caring if she made a public spectacle of herself. She stood abruptly, startling those nearby, and began to walk between the closely-knit audience.
Giles heard movements within the audience but didn't lift his head, thinking perhaps someone was coming to throw him out for his unprofessional performance. That, or cart him off to a psychiatrist. Then he heard her.
"Giles."
He would know that beautiful voice anywhere; so loud yet so gentle, so impassioned yet so clear.
*Buffy?*
He shook his head, knowing she was miles away.
The gentle voice persisted, "Giles, look at me."
Hushed voices began in the club, each person whispering to their neighbour, each wondering who this girl was. He kept his head down, refusing to let the voice in his head make a fool out of him.
*Still, I seem to be doing a bloody good job of that, myself.*
However, he couldn't stop himself responding, "Buffy?"
The voices of the audience suddenly rose, he was more aware of them this time.
"Buffy?"
"Did he say, Buffy?"
"This is the girl the song was for?"
"Mummy? What did Mr Giles mean she's in America? She's right here."
This last comment came from a young girl somewhere near Giles' feet. He lifted an arm, brushing away the last of his tears, and looked down at the girl, still unable to face the rest of the audience.
"What did you say?" He asked roughly.
The little girl rose from her seat and walked the edge of the stage, sticking out a trusting hand, silently urging him to take it. Having given up on completing the song, Giles removed his guitar, placing it on the stand beside him. He then moved to the front of the stage with two easy strides, focusing only on the child, embarrassed by his outburst of emotion and unable to look at any of the audience. Upon reaching her, he bent down and clasped the little girl's hand with hope.
Buffy stopped as she reached the aisle, watching this exchange. The whispering had stopped too, she noticed. It was as if the audience were holding a collective breath, waiting for a love scene to unfold before their eyes, both she and they unaware it would. Both men and women were equally enthralled.
The little girl pulled on Giles' hand and pointed at Buffy.
"Mr Giles, I asked my mummy why you said your girlfriend was in America when she's standing just there."
He couldn't help himself looking, and his heart suddenly beat double-time as he realised the vision he beheld was not wavering or fading as his dreams so often did. He clutched the little girl's hand tighter, as if she were his lifeline.
"Buffy? You. You're really here? But... how?"
She could only run to him down the small aisle, his name passing her lips with emotion.
"Giles."
Hearing her speak his name so lovingly, so forgivingly did more to him than any drug he knew. His heart soared, his breath caught, and suddenly he was riding a wave of euphoria. He let go of the small hand in his, and slid off the stage as the child returned to her mother.
"Buffy" he managed to choke out, as he threw his arms around her waist, a fresh round of tears beginning, although this time the regret was mingled with happiness. He sobbed into her shoulder for a minute, before remembering something.
"Buffy, I expect you heard... my... dedication. I'm sorry. I know you don't..."
She quickly cut him off.
"Giles, don't you dare say what I think you're thinking. You've hardly surprised me. Especially considering the" she lowered her voice, "detailed letters you left me."
"Oh Buffy, I'm sorry. You were never meant to."
She cut him off again.
"Giles you don't get it, do you? Why do you think I'm here, suffering really badly from jet lag, listening to your sexy voice sing to me? Why do think I've travelled all this way? Just to try English Tea?"
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and he pulled back shaking his head, as if the thought of why she was here hadn't occurred to him.
"I've come to take you home, Giles."
She pressed a soft kiss on his forehead before continuing, "You can't tell me I don't feel the same as you, so don't try." He opened and closed his mouth like a codfish as she carried on, "I've loved you since you tried to stop me from facing the M..." she stopped, suddenly aware of the crowd, but he knew what she was referring to.
"I just never knew you felt the same. Whatever caused you to leave me those letters instead of whatever you intended - I'm thankful for it. Otherwise you'd still be miserable here and I'd still be miserable in Sunnydale. Giles, I love you."
"Oh, Buffy."
It came out as a moan as he pulled her to him.
"I love you too."
And there, in front of about 150 people, Buffy and Giles shared their first kiss. He pressed his lips gently to hers, feeling electricity suddenly pulse through him, tightening his hold on her reflexively. They simultaneously felt fire travel through them, and Buffy squirmed in his grasp at the sensations. They pulled apart gasping for breath for only
seconds before capturing each other's mouths hungrily in passion-fuelled kisses.
Buffy moaned into Giles' mouth, glorying in the breathtaking feelings he was invoking in her. He kissed her back with wild abandon, as he felt answering heat within him.
*Oh Buffy. Oh God, I love you. I swear I will never leave you again.*
He tugged at her lip gently, feeling the fire roar in his ears. She whimpered into his mouth as he continued to ravage her, having completely forgotten their surroundings and the fact that there were children nearby, until they became aware of the sound of rapturous applause. They broke apart, embarrassed, gazing into each other's eyes as the clapping continued. Buffy whispered conspiratorially to him, "I bet you wouldn't believe me if I told you that I hadn't wanted to cause a scene."
Giles chuckled then hugged her fiercely.
"I expect you wouldn't believe that I'm very glad you did."
"I never knew you were such an exhibitionist!" she teased him.
The Emcee's voice over the P.A. interrupted their whispering.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe the entertainment for tonight is over."
He turned toward Giles again and winked at him.
"There are, as always, drinks available from the bar. I apologise that the performance has been disrupted, but I hope you continue to enjoy your evening. I sure know two people who will."
He gave Giles another wink and a thumbs-up sign with his free hand. The audience began enthusiastically applauding again, delighted that this man who had captured their hearts and imaginations so deeply since he'd arrived
four months ago had found happiness with the woman he loved.
As the audience dispersed, the Emcee returned his microphone to its stand, and walked casually down the steps to the couple that were still entangled in each other's arms at the foot of the stage. Giles greeted him with an apology.
"George, I'm ever so sorry for disrupting the evening. Please accept tonight's profits by way of my apology. I've already received my payment."
He hugged Buffy to him again while George shrugged Giles' apology off, slapping him good-heartedly on the back. When he caught his breath, Giles continued.
"Could I trouble you to look after my guitar for the night? I shall collect it in the morning. In the meantime, I believe Buffy has some explaining to do."
He extracted himself from Buffy's arm, and reached a hand toward the other gentleman. George shook it enthusiastically.
"Rupert, I shall be more than delighted to assist you in anyway I can. By all means, collect your guitar at any time tomorrow. I'm sure you have far more important things to discuss."
He gave another wink. Buffy was beginning to wonder if this guy had an eye problem.
He turned to Buffy. "It has been an absolute pleasure meeting you, Miss."
"Summers" she supplied.
"Miss Summers. I wish you and Rupert many years of happiness."
With a final shake of Giles' hand, he turned to tend to his customers. Buffy looked at Giles with wide eyes as he put his jacket on.
"Giles, do all Brits talk like you? You know, with the long winded speeches and all?"
He wasn't quite sure how to take that, so he simply laughed.
"Oh Buffy, it is good to hear your voice again. Even if you are complaining."
Before she could retort, he swept her into his arms, out of the building.
As the cool night air greeted them, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"You think my voice is sexy?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~