Nothing has changed from part one: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the "Which Way?" books still do not belong to me. Sigh...

Part Eleven

Buffy stared at Giles longingly, but she had to admit that he was right. Damn, but she hated it when he was right. "I'm not really into waiting. You know this about me, don't you?"

Giles got into the car and deadpanned, "I have gotten that impression from you every once and a while."

Buffy slid into the car and buckled her seatbelt. She knew what Giles was doing; he was trying to lighten the atmosphere. If they didn't, all the good intentions in the world would never be enough to keep her hands off of his gorgeous body. She could only hope that he felt the same way... In any case, she could help with the mood-lightening thing. "This is because I said it was skanky to party with the students, isn't it?"

Giles shot her a dangerous grin. "I assure you, Buffy, I still have absolutely no intention of partying with students in any sort of gathering, large or small. I was thinking more along the lines of a one-on-one tutorial with a particularly recalcitrant pupil..."

Buffy was glad she was sitting down, because that last comment had her feeling rather weak in the knees. She liked the feeling, and she liked this game. "And just what would this tutorial entail...?"

"Hmm." Giles pretended to ponder her question, lightly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. "I do believe a fancy dinner is in order, perhaps some dancing, and then back to my couch for a proper tongue lashing."

"Tongue lashing?" Buffy squeaked.

"A very thorough tongue lashing. I anticipate several hours at least," Giles answered severely.

Buffy failed to suppress a giggle at this, but she quickly composed her features and asked, "And then?"

Sobered now, Giles answered, "And then we'll see where things stand. I have no specific expectations of you, Buffy, nor do I have a secret agenda." Giles flicked her eyes to her, and then turned back to the road. "I love you, and I will love you no matter what. Whether we decide to pursue a physical relationship or not has no bearing on that basic fact. Let's just defeat the Mayor, and then allow matters to unfold at their own rate."

Buffy found her eyes misting up. "I love you too, Watcher mine. But just so we're clear: you aren't saying no' to smoochies with me, you're just saying no' to smoochies until after graduation."

Giles smiled seductively. "I wouldn't object too strenuously to a goodnight smooch' or two; I just think that we should stop there for the time being. There's no rush. I'm not going anywhere, and I intend to make sure that you are around for a long, long time."

"Do you know, Giles, I think I just might be at that. Somehow, I feel like anything is possible when you're in my corner."

Giles turned to face her, and Buffy realized that they were parked in front of her house. He cupped her cheek and stared intently at her. "That's because anything is possible for you, Buffy. You are amazing, and I have no doubt that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, whether I am around or not. Of course, I am much happier if I'm around..."

"Then what are you doing over there on the other side of the car," Buffy petulantly asked. Taking the hint, Giles scooted over to give Buffy a lingering kiss, one that was mind-blowing in its passion and intensity.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing heavily. Giles jerked his head towards her house and whispered, "You'd best get inside, Buffy. We have an early morning tomorrow."

"I guess we do," Buffy acknowledged ruefully. "Demon dog disposal and Ascension prevention. Oh joy!"

"Um, per- perhaps we might, if we accomplish enough in the morning, perhaps we mi- might go out for coffee afterwards?" Even in the dark, Buffy could make out the adorable blush on Giles' face.

"Coffee, huh? Willow calls that the non-relationship drink of choice."

Giles stared steadily at her. "I thought you said it was a caffeinated beverage."

"That too," Buffy assured him brightly. She leaned over to give him a quick peck on the lips and then jumped out of the car. "Goodnight, Giles."

"It has been, hasn't it," Giles mused.

"Yeah, it has been," Buffy assured him. "The best night of my life, in fact. But I'm expecting something even better next after Graduation."

"Then you shall have it," Giles told her gravely.

And somehow, Buffy knew that she would. It would be a long couple of weeks, but she knew that the wait would be worth it. And there would be coffee and kisses to tide her over. Life was good. For the first time in a year and a half, life was really and truly good.

THE END

Hey, I liked that ending! Sweet, with lots of promise of future bliss—what could be better? What? You think that hot Gilesian monkey-sex would be better? Well, yes it would be, but fanfiction,net doesn't allow it. How about some nice leading-to and post-coital conversations? You can find them in part twelve.