Chapter 6

The room was empty. Buffy and Giles looked in opposite directions. Giles was cleaning his glasses slowly while Buffy fiddled with her hair.

"God, this seems familiar," Buffy burst out, flopping down on her bed. Startled, Giles dropped his handkerchief.

"Familiar, how?" He left the piece of cloth where it had fallen and slipped his glasses on.

"When I first found out about Riley and the Initiative, and he found out about the slaying, we said we had to talk, then we just couldn't."

"What happened?"

"Eventually, we talked, which led to…other things." She ducked her head and blushed. Giles ignored the blush and sat down next to her on the bed.

"Buffy, tell me. What's wrong?"

"WillyoustillwantmeifI'myoungagain?" Buffy burst out.

"Um, sorry? I didn't get that."

"I'm so nervous, Giles. Will you still want me if I'm young again?"

"Oh, Buffy," he said, pulling her into his chest.

"This feels good, Giles, but it's not an answer. Will you still want me if I'm not old Buffy anymore?"

Giles' mind was racing. What could he say? The truth? That he was more comfortable loving a woman closer to his age? The semi-truth? That he would always love her no matter what?

Buffy pulled back from him, looking into his eyes.

"You said you loved me, when you got back just now, before you kissed me in front of God and witches and Scoobies and potentials and who knows who else. How do you love me, Giles?"

Buffy felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for his answer.

"Buffy, for years, you have been the center of my life. The sun around which I turn," Giles said. "I think, all that time, while I was pretending that my feelings were parental, they were always something more. God knows your teeny little skirts provoked decidedly non-paternal feelings in me."

Buffy giggled, as he had intended.

"But you are…were….so much younger than me. More than 20 years. And I was taught to treat you as a child, not as a potential lover. Honestly, Buffy, I don't know what to say. I love you no matter what your age. I love you no matter how you look.

"I want you to think about something else, Buffy. Sending you back to your normal age could have a terrible affect on your personal timeline. This way, you have 20 years, assuming…well, assuming that fate is kind. Going back could strip that time away from you."

"Away from us," Buffy corrected firmly. His eyes widened and she smiled. "Giles, when I came back from…from heaven, you were my touchstone. You kept me sane, or as sane as I could be. Before you left, I started to feel…I started to feel more for you. More than Watcher, more than friend. Way more than fill-in daddy.

"You left me." The stark words made him wince and he tried to look away. She captured his chin, shaking her head. "I turned to Spike, both to try to feel something and to try not to feel what I felt for you. It was wrong. You're my Watcher."

"And I'm old and gross," Giles added, smiling.

"That too. But oldness and grossness aside, you know me, better than any man ever has. You have seen me through the bad and through the badder," she took a deep breath. "I want those 20 years with you, Giles. I want as much time with you as this Hellmouthy world will allow. You tell me, Giles. Is that what you want too?"

Giles stared into the hazel eyes looking into his, then leaned forward and captured Buffy's mouth. Minutes later, when they pulled breathlessly apart, Giles smiled.

"Buffy, an eternity with you wouldn't be enough. Please, give me those 20 years to show me how much I love you."

Buffy smiled warmly, throwing her arms around him. "They're yours, Watcher-mine!" she shouted.

They kissed again to the sound of cheers and whistles from the hallway, where their friends had been glued to the door. Smiling as they fell backward onto the bed, they heard Dawn herding people in a strident voice. The First, the end of the world, and the Bringers would wait.

After all, they only had 20 years.

-FIN-