Author: Lianna
Title: Lost loves
Summary: Giles coping. With a little help from a friend. Set between Becoming & Anne (BtVS) resp. Armageddon & Indescretions (HL:TS)
Pairing: implied G/J, M/A
Be gentle - first fic ;) (and no beta-reader so far.)
Rating: PG-13 just to be safe
Spoilers: BtVS up to end of Season 2, HL:TS up to Armageddon. Just to be on the safe side.
Disclaimer: BtVS-characters belong to Joss - Highlander characters to Panzer-Davis. Nothing's mine - except the idea.
No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.



Leaning back against the tree, Giles allowed himself to close his eyes for what he thought not more than an instant. Well aware of the possible danger he opened them, his gaze once again fixed on the tombstone only a couple of feet away, asking himself if he did even care about the thread this place held at this time of the day.

After her senseless, brutal death he had pretended to be able to carry on. For the children. To keep the unspoken promise he made the night he tried to kill Angelus, full of hate, anger and grief. She beseeched him to never leave her alone.
With her gone, not even the slightest hint of her whereabouts, he started to let himself go.

Not even noticing, he took a deep audible breath. Giles couldn't even remember since when he came here. The first time he found himself standing in front of her grave he hadn't even noticed where his steps lead him until he was there.
After a time it became quite a habit. Just sitting under the tree, starring mindlessly at her name engraved at the bare stone. No talking, no thinking - just letting his thoughts run free, savouring the quietness.

Giles took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes and sighed again, when he heard a crackling noise. His head bolted up and in an instant he was on his feet, his eyes searching for the source of the disturbance.
Catching a glimpse of someone standing by a group of trees, his hand reached into his jacket unconsciously, grasping the stake.
For what seemed an eternity, his stomach clenched. Angelus. Eyes focused on the tall figure still standing motionless in the dark, his thoughts began to race. The rush of blood in his head was almost deafening. Giles took a deep breath to steady himself, as the other started to walk towards him.

Hands stuck in the pockets of his long coat, the other man stopped, giving a chuckling noise at the sight of the Giles' stake.
"That will hurt. Won't help long, though. You should know that by now." Grinning wryly, he ran a hand through his dark untidy hair, covering the distance between them.
"Out for a walk I assume?" he asked with a mocking British accent, stopping a few feet in front of Giles.

Unbelievingly, Giles starred at the other man, struggling to keep his countenance. He felt his muscles relax at the now clear sight of the apparently younger man approaching him. Putting back the stake he allowed his lips to curl at the long forgotten memories the voice brought back so sudden.

"Reminds me of bringing a sword next time" Giles replied casually, giving his opponent a quick grin before taking the last few steps crossing the distance between them.
The way he embraced the other man in a brief yet delighted hug would have appeared so untypical for those who knew him only as the Watcher and librarian but seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary for the other who returned the hug.

Releasing him, Giles stepped back, glancing over the other man's figure.
"You haven't changed the slightest bit." He stated, still smiling. All he got in response was another chuckle.
"Should have learned that by now as well, shouldn't I." Giles continued casually.
"So - what brings you here, Adam? Or is it Benjamin again?" he smirked.

-tbc-