Joss and Archway Paperbacks are gods; I am a worm. A creative worm, but a ground crawler all the same...
Part Ten
Never one to stew overlong, Buffy decided to pursue this new possibility before she lost her nerve. "Too bad I can't extend the evening a bit longer. It's sort of traditional to stay out till morning on Prom night, but I don't want to hone in on Willow or Xander's dates. I feel like the biggest loser of all time, having to go home right after this dance ends."
Giles smiled affectionately. "That rather sounds like a hint. Would you like to come back to my flat for some tea? Or we could go out for ice cream? I did promise you ice cream."
"You've seen through my diabolical plan," Buffy giggled. "But I'm not really in an ice cream mood anymore. Too happy. I would, however, very much like a cup of coffee."
Giles stared at her oddly. "Coffee?"
Panicked, Buffy wondered whether Giles knew that coffee qualified as a not-quite-a-date. As was her wont when embarrassed, Buffy began to babble. "Yeah, coffee. It's a caffeinated beverage, you know. But you could have tea, if you like. Tea is also caffeinated. Or we could go for ice cream if you prefer. Ice cream is always of the good. They even have caffeinated ice cream. I think. Is there any caffeine in mocha ice cream? Or maybe I should just–"
Giles interrupted Buffy with a kindly chuckle. "I am familiar with coffee, and I would love to have some with you. I believe it is too late for the Espresso Pump, but Dunkin' Donuts is open 24 hours a day." Giles gallantly offered Buffy his arm and bowed slightly at the waist. "Shall we?"
"Thank you, kind sir," Buffy grinned as she linked her elbow through his. "And I'll make you a deal: if you buy the coffee, I'll get the jelly donuts."
Giles responded with an adorable grin and a gentle tug on her arm, leading her away from the Prom and towards their first non-date.
- * - * - * - * -
They spent nearly two hours in Dunkin' Donuts before the glares of the night manager finally chased them away. Buffy had a wonderful time, and judging by his frequent smiles and giggles, Giles did as well. Neither mentioned the Ascension or Slaying or Destiny; instead, they discussed music and art, ice-skating and archaeology, London and LA, and dozens of other non-Hellmouthy type topics. As they started walking towards Giles' car, Buffy suddenly realized that she had never had a nicer evening.
When they got to the ancient Citroen, Giles leaned down to open the passenger side door for her. His face was millimeters from her own, and the temptation was too great for Buffy. She gently pressed her lips to his, and then leaned back to judge his reaction. His eyes were glazed and he was breathing heavily, letting Buffy know that this attraction she was feeling was definitely not one-sided. Afraid that he might call a halt to this whatever-it-was, Buffy decided that he mustn't be allowed to catch his breath. She went back in for another kiss, this time opening her lips and inviting him in. Giles froze for a moment, and then skillfully swept his tongue into her mouth. Two years ago, Buffy would never have guessed that her tweed-clad Watcher had so much passion buried within him, but it wasn't the slightest bit startling to her now. Giles was all about hidden depths, and always had been. Like, who would have guessed that he would be such an amazing kisser?
When they finally broke for air, Buffy was trembling. Giles noticed–as he always noticed everything that concerned her–and started to take off his jacket. Buffy stopped him by laying her hand on his arm. "That's okay, Giles. I'm not cold. Believe me, I am very far from cold right now!"
Giles chuckled. "That makes two of us. And on that note, I definitely need to take you home now."
"Or you could take me to your place," Buffy whispered enticingly. "Mom doesn't expect me home until morning..."
Giles swallowed nervously, but his voice was steady when he answered her. "Buffy, I don't think that would be a very good idea." Buffy shook her head, and looked like she was about to protest, so Giles went on quickly. "No, hear me out. I love you, Buffy. I've loved you for years now. I first recognized the feeling when you went to fight the Master, but I had already loved you long before I read of your death in the Codex. And it's never been a father's love of his child,' but rather the love of a friend and a partner. And yet, despite the strength of my feelings for you, I have never wanted you ... before tonight. I haven't seen you as a girl since your seventeenth birthday, but I haven't seen you as a woman either. Not until you walked through those doors tonight, looking too beautiful for a mortal man to bear." Giles softly brushed his fingertips over Buffy's cheek, and she leaned into his caress like a cat. "This feeling is too new and too precious to risk by rushing into anything neither of us is ready for. After we stop the Ascension and defeat the Mayor there will be plenty of time to explore our feelings for each other. For now, allow me to take you home. Please."
Buffy stared at her Watcher, and thought about what he had said. Giles might sound confident that they would stop the Ascension, but Buffy had been reading the same books that he had, and she knew that it was far from a sure thing. A Slayer never had any sort of guarantee that she would still be alive in the morning; the only philosophy that made any sense for the Chosen One was that of carpe diem. Right now, Buffy wanted to carpe Giles' diem rather badly. Giles sounded sure of what he wanted, but Buffy knew that she could get what she wanted if she pouted hard enough. He never could resist her when she set her mind towards something. And if the pout didn't work, she knew just what buttons to push... On the other hand, he was making a lot of sense ... assuming that they did survive the Ascension.
If you think Buffy will go home and meekly agree to take this budding relationship slowly, go to part eleven.
If you think Buffy will turn into id-girl and go for the completely gratuitous sex, go to part twelve.
