Chapter 2

It was close to closing time when Anya wandered back toward the training room where Buffy was working out alone. Anya leaned against the doorway. "Buffy? Tell me about Ripper."

Buffy pushed the mats against the wall of the training room and looked up. Anya tried to appear as casual as possible.

"Um, sure… but why?" Buffy sat down on the mats to stretch. Anya shrugged.

"Well. It's fascinating, really. And having a dark side is something I, as an ex-vengeance demon, can relate to." Anya crossed her arms. "Plus there are no customers and I'm bored."

"Ah." Buffy grinned and patted the space next to her. Anya joined her on the floor and leaned against the wall, waiting for Buffy to begin.

"Let's see. The Mr. Hyde to Giles' Dr. Jekyll… or is that the other way around? Wait, who was the bad guy?"

"Unimportant. Please continue."

Buffy sighed. "Ripper is like that, the bad part of Giles. The id. The whole 'want, take, have' part of him. Total rebel without a cause. Basically, he was a crazy, magic-abusing delinquent before he overcompensated by becoming a tweed-wearin' librarian."

"Hmm. Interesting."

"Oh. And he had sex with my mom once… I mean, twice, as Ripper."

"No kidding!"

"Slayer's honor." Buffy made an X over her heart and held up her hand. "Why? Do you think maybe the whole Ripper thing has something to do with Giles being kind of, withdrawn, since he's been here? Has Giles done anything strange to you?"

Before her blush gave her away, Anya shrugged, then stood up when she heard the front bell. "Thanks, Buffy," she said, distracted, frowning as she left.

***

She should have known it was him. Since they'd arrived home yesterday from the desert they had not had a chance to talk, to be alone, to do anything. He was the default Watcher for all those pesky brats now, and he was busy. Understandably so. Which didn't help her confusion one bit. Had she dreamt that kiss on her forehead? Had he not really held her hand in the woods? Had she only imagined that the hug was so much more than a hug? Was it not Giles, not Ripper, someone else?

"Anya? Are you all right?" Giles said, frowning when he saw the pained expression on her face.

"Hello, Giles. If that's your real name." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

"What? I… oh, hello, Buffy."

"Hello, non-evil Giles." Buffy entered the room and walked up to him, poking him heartily on the arm.

"Just checking," she said, grinning cheekily up at him.

"Very funny." Giles sighed and rubbed his arm where she had poked him. "And, ow. Your strength is better than ever, I see."

"Yep. Just got finished working out. How are things at the house?"

"Fine. Spike's back now."

Anya saw the color drain from Buffy's face. "Is he… is he okay?"

"Yes."

"I thought he'd be longer. They said it would take longer…"

Giles put a calming hand on her shoulder. "Well, as we know, Spike isn't the most patient of people. He… well, apparently checked himself out of the facility after getting the chip removed. Apparently he used rather… well, unorthodox means to escape."

"But he's okay?" Buffy demanded.

Anya wanted to smile, watching her. It really was kind of adorable.

When Giles nodded, Buffy nodded back, and then was gone, out the door faster than Anya could say, "Spike n' Buffy, sittin' in a tree…" Which she honestly wanted to do, except she forgot she was mad at Giles.

"I forgot I'm mad at you," Anya announced, going over to the front door and locking it, turning the Open sign to Closed and drawing the shade.

"Anya…" Giles began, but she twirled around, fists clenched, and marched up to him.

"Who are you? That's what I want to know, mister. You've been acting strange ever since you came back here with those junior Slayers in tow." She poked him in the chest.

"I wish you would all stop poking me," Giles said. "And I'm Giles. I'm still Giles."

"But you've been acting so withdrawn since you came back. And that whole Ripper thing in the woods… he wasn't taking over somehow?"

"No."

"But you called me… you held my…" Anya, normally never at a loss for words, found herself looking down at her hands in confusion.

"That was me, Anya."

"It was?" she asked. There was a smile in his eyes as he watched her and nodded. Her smile of relief made him smile back.

"Was that also you who promised… in the car… that there would be… more?" she finally managed to squeeze out the words. They were standing only a foot or so apart but it felt far, far too wide of a breach for her. Her body hummed to life when he was nearby, and it took every ounce of her willpower not to go to him, touch him, curl up into him like she did on the car ride home.

"That was me, yes," he said quietly. The way he said that made her heart hammer in her chest.

"And… do you, Giles, think that 24 hours constitutes 'all in good time'?"

It was he who took the step toward her. His hand reached out to cup her face.

"God, you are lovely," he said. His eyes drifted to her lips, then back to her eyes, which were wide as saucers.

"Oh boy," Anya whispered.

And then there was a horrible rattling of the front door, somebody pounding. Not now, she thought. Please, not now.

"You better get that," he said, frowning down at her.

"It's probably not important," she whispered, leaning in to him.

"Anya! Open up! It's important!" They heard Willow's voice from outside. Anya sighed and looked up at Giles.

"Wasn't meant to be, I guess."
"I wouldn't be too sure," Giles said, and kissed her, his hands on either side of her face as his lips met hers. She gasped in pleasure when his tongue slid in, tasting her. A lovely warmth spread through her, and then the kiss was over, far too quickly. He looked as shellshocked as she felt.

"Oh, boy," she whispered again.

"Indeed," Giles said, caressing her lower lip with his thumb. Then he gestured toward the door. "Go."

Anya ran, her hand covering her mouth, covering her huge smile as she opened the door to Willow.

"Didn't you hear me knocking out there?" Willow said, breathless. She looked first at Anya, then at Giles. "Are you guys okay? You look funny."

"We're fine. What's wrong?" Giles said, after he cleared his throat.

"Nothing, I just need some supplies."

"You said it was important!" Anya almost shouted, hands on hips.

"Well, I figured you wouldn't let me in if I didn't say that," Willow said, her eyes guilty. "I'm sorry. Don't be mad."

"I am mad! Very, very mad. Giles, you better walk me home or there's no telling what I might do!" Anya said. She stomped her foot as an afterthought.

"Yes." Giles perked up. "Yes, you're right. Eh, Willow, turn the lights off when you're done."

Willow just stared at them in confusion as they hurried out of the store, Giles' hand on Anya's back.

When they were a block away Anya turned to him. "Was the whole stomping of the foot thing overkill?" she said.

"Who bloody cares?" he responded, pressing her against a wall as he kissed her again.

The first time they kissed, long ago, when she thought they were engaged, it felt wonderful but strange, as if something was off. Sexy as hell, but not right, almost like a trick. Now, there was no spell, no magic, just Giles, this beautiful man whom she'd had a crush on… a crush? No. More than a crush. Something had been there, always under the surface, and when she thought he was dying that day long ago while they lay in the rubble of the Magic Shop she thought a part of her was dying too. And now, this crazy dream was coming true and she wanted more, wanted to never wake up. Her hands were on his hips, pulling him hard against her. Giles broke the kiss, only to move his lips slowly along her jawline. She arched against him, tilting her head back to let his lips roam her throat. She gripped his arms to keep herself from falling.

"You literally just made me knees weak," she said, the words coming out in a gasp. In reply he kissed her mouth again, tasting her, exploring her mouth with his own.

"Put your hands on me," she whispered when he broke off the kiss. Giles stared down at her, his breathing ragged, matching hers. A group of people passed by, teenagers from the looks of it, and after they passed one of them called back, "Get a room!" followed by laughter. Giles and Anya looked around, suddenly realizing they were outside, on the street, leaning up against a storefront at dinnertime. Broad daylight. They looked at each other and smiled.

"On second thought," she said, "take me home first, then put your hands on me."

Giles nodded. "Excellent idea." He took her hand in his as she led the way.

TBC