Chapter Twelve
"Giles? What are you doing here," She asked, as she tried pulling herself together.
"I got a phone call from Willow. They were very worried about you," He told her. He took off his glasses and whipped them with his shirt.
Buffy looked at Willow and Tara. "Yeah. I was a little not my self. But I feel better. I just needed some time to myself," Buffy said, trying to hide the grin that was creeping through her lips. She turned to look at Angel. He had gotten himself off the floor and was sitting on the bed, with a grin a mild wide.
"I see. Can we talk?" He asked.
"Uh, yeah. Give me 5 minutes, to get some decent clothes on," She said, as she looked down at her tee shirt. "And, I'll meet you down stairs."
Giles nodded his head and turned to head back down stairs. Buffy closed the door and turned to look at Angel. "You don't think he noticed anything?" She asked, as she started laughing again. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a pair of sweats and put them on.
Angel had put on his pants. When they were done, they headed down stairs, to the kitchen.
ºººº
Giles was sitting at the counter with Willow. Tara had gone to bed. She said she wasn't feeling that well. Giles had looked up when Buffy and Angel had walked in.
"Angel," He said. Angel nodded his head hello.
"You wanted to talk?" Buffy asked, as she got a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
"Yeah. Is everything alright with you?" He asked, concerned.
"Yeah. Things are great. Couldn't be any better," She said, walking over to Angel and sat on his lap.
"But, by the sound of it, when I talked to Willow, things weren't okay." Willow looked up. She knew this was her cue to leave.
"I'm gonna go check on Tara. See how she's doing," She said, as she left the kitchen.
Buffy let out a sigh. She rubbed the back of her neck. "I wasn't. But I'm fine now."
"Okay. If you're sure," He said.
"I'm sure," She said, reassuring him.
"Then my work here isn't needed. I'll just go to a hotel and catch the next flight back to England," He said, getting up from his spot.
"Giles, you know you can stay here. You don't have to stay in a hotel. You're always welcome here," She said. "Why don't you stay here for a while?"
"I don't know. I really have to get back. You don't need any help. I see that you have everything under control."
"Please?" She asked, giving him the puppy eyes look.
After a few minutes of thinking. He didn't really have to go back any time soon. "Oh all right. I'll stay for a while."
Buffy gave him a hug. "I'll go make up the couch. If that's okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine," He said.
Buffy left, leaving him and Angel alone, awkwardly, in silence.
ºººº
"It's been awhile Angel," Giles said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah it has," He said. "Buffy tells me, you moved back to England. How's it over there?"
"Good. Not have to worry about so many demons or vampires. Occasionally you run into one. What brings you to Sunnydale?" Giles asked, getting a little protective.
"Came to visit. Maybe moving back here," Angel said, coolly.
"You and Buffy together?"
Angel knew there was no stopping him with the 20 questions. "Yes."
"Ah, I see." He walked up to him. "I've seen what pain you've caused her. You hurt her again, I personally will kill you myself," He said, as he left to check on Buffy.
Angel knew the type of relationship he had with Buffy. But Giles had nothing to worry. He wasn't going to hurt her. Ever again.
ºººº
Giles had gotten settled in, the living room, for the night. He was sitting on the cough, when Buffy walked in.
"Hey," She said, standing there next to the chair.
He looked up from the book that he was reading. "Hey."
She walked over to him and sat down on the cough. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"I really do appreciate that you're here. Actually, I'm glad that you're here. Things have been really rough around here lately. I know that you've just got here and everything. But, I'm gonna go to LA with Angel later tonight, and do you think that you could watch Dawn while I'm gone?" She asked.
"Why are you going to LA?" He asked.
"Angel wants to get a few things. And we'll only be gone for a couple of days. 2 the most," She told him.
"Well, I suppose I could."
"But?" She just knew that was coming.
"But, you tell me what's been bothering you."
"I...I can do that," She said, as she started telling him, what's been on her mind.
ºººº
After about an hour of talking. Buffy explained everything, down to her dreams, running in to Angel. Finding out that Angel's soul was permanent and that he wanted her back.
"Wow. I can see why now. I'd be more then happy to look out for Dawn, while you're gone," Giles told her.
"Thank you. Thank you," She said, as she through her arms around him. "Thank you."
"No problem," He said.
"I'm gonna go to bed now. I have a long day a head of me," She said, as she got up.
"Goodnight Buffy," He said.
"Night Giles," She said, and headed back up stairs.
ºººº
Buffy quietly closed her door behind her, trying not to wake Angel up, who was sleeping peacefully. She took off her sweats and climbed in bed next to him.
"I love you Angel," She said, softly, kissing him on the forehead. She cuddled up next to him, and in seconds, she fell asleep.
