CHAPTER EIGHT

It was creeping up on almost a year since Kennedy had left for Rome. She had made sure to call Giles everyday since the departure, but it was starting to wear on the two.

Giles was with the group at the Magic Box. He was in the back with Buffy going over some new training exercises while the others were in the front part of the store. When the two were done they made there way to the others. Kennedy had just walked in through the door as Giles walked into the room, dropping her bags at her feet. Everyone looked up staring at her. Giles made his way over to her looking at her as if she was a dream, some figment of his imagination.

"So that's Kennedy." Tara asked.

"We were starting to wonder if she was going to ever come back." Xander said.

Shrugging, "She's not that pretty." Anya said.

"Well I am hungry. How about you guys?" Willow looked to the others.

They all muttered a 'yes' as they made their way out. Everyone said 'hi' and Willow and Buffy gave Kennedy a hug as they passed her. Once they were alone Kennedy threw her arms around Giles and kissed him.

She licked her lips with a smile as the parted, "I've been wanting to do that for like ever."

He didn't even say anything, he just went in for another kiss. When the gang returned Giles and Kennedy were nowhere to be found.

"Looks like we won't be seeing Giles for the rest of the day." He smirked.

Anya hit him in the arm hard before going behind the counter.

Giles helped Kennedy bring her luggage inside her place. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back today? I would of come and retrieved you."

"I wanted it to be a surprise." Setting her luggage down in her hands.

Placing the things he had next to hers, "More than you'll ever know. I am guessing your sister and niece are ok."

"Wouldn't be back in they weren't. But I didn't really want to talk about that, I have a different subject for us." Smirking at him.

Adjusting his glasses, "And that would be?"

Reaching at the bottom of her shirt, she slowly lifted it up. "A nice long bath." Removing her top. "I am oh so dirty. Care to join?" Making her way to the bathroom.

By the time Giles got there, the bath was drawn and bubbles were over flowing and Kennedy was already in. Giles stood in the door way staring.

"If you're not going to join me at least make yourself useful and grab a lufa. My back could use a good scrub." Pointing to the lufa hanging up on the shower head.

Getting what she asked for, he sat on the edge of the tub, by Kennedy's back. When Giles reached to scrub her she grabbed his wrist and pulled him in. Giles gasped making all ready laughing Kennedy laugh even harder. He climbed out soaked to the bone with a not so happy face.

Making a sad face, "Come on G that was a little funny."

"I am completely wet." Squeezing his tie.

Blowing some bubbles, "Guess you're going to have to join me now."

"How is that going to solve my wet clothes dilemma?" Looking up at her.

"You have to do something while your clothes are in the dryer. Besides I have been itching for some real personal time with you."

Giles head shot up at her "Really?" He asked in shock.

"Why do you think I went straight to the magic shop instead of coming here?"

Giles' clothes never made it to the dryer, they found themselves on the tile floor of the bathroom instead.

After their long bath, the two wrapped themselves in towels and laid in bed. Kennedy rested her head on Giles chest. Giles wrapped an arm around her, running his hand through her hair. Kennedy was the first to fall asleep.

When Giles woke the next day he found himself alone in bed. His eyes fell on the door when he heard laughter on the other side. His clothes were dry when he retrieved them from the bathroom, which he was thankful for. Reaching Kennedy's living room he saw Buffy, Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya.

"I hope you don't mind I called them over. I wanted to meet the new additions." Kennedy came up beside him handing Giles a cup of coffee. He looked her up and down quickly. Kennedy was in a over sized button up shirt that looked all to familiar "It's your shirt that was left when you were staying at my place while your place was being fumigated. And I have shorts on don't worry. It's just because they're really short and your shirt is big because you are built differently. Not to mention you're much taller than I am."

"Thanks." Still trying to register all that was going on.

Sitting on the couch Kennedy turned sideways a little to look at Giles, "Why didn't you tell me you guys blew up the high school?"

"Slipped my mind I guess." Making his way over to them.

Moving over as she glared at him, "I can't believe you forgot to tell me something so cool."

"Next time I blow up a school I will remember to tell you." Sitting next to her.

Taking a gulp of her drink, "Hell I'm planning on being there."

"How are things with your sister and the baby?" Tara asked.

Setting her half empty drink down, "Very well thank you. Lucy ended up getting real sick after giving birth and Ruby, the baby, was super tiny. But after sometime everything was ok. And Ruby is doing excellent for being born really early and all."

A few hours passed before everyone ended up leaving. Kennedy was happy to see them all again, but happier they were gone. Giles was in the living room picking up the mess that was left behind.

"You're not mad I invited them all over are you?" Helping Giles.

Heading for the kitchen, "Why would I be?"

"Just curious is all. What do you want to do now?" Kennedy asked as the placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher.

Turning to her, "I'm not sure. What were you thinking?"

"Let's go have some lunch. I am quite hungry." Placing her hands behind her back.

Leaning against the counter, "I would figured you would be tired after your trip."

"Is this your way of trying to get me back in bed?" Kennedy moved closer to Giles.

Giles' ears flushed, "Oh no, I…I was just saying because the flight is so long."

"G relax, I know what you meant. You're just so cute when you're flustered." Giving him a kiss before heading to her room.

Kennedy and Giles spent every second they could together. Giles had stayed over every night at Kennedy's since she returned. He had gone over to his place to go get some more clothes, when he returned he spotted Kennedy leaving her house.

Watching her climb in her car she sped off. Curious to where Kennedy was heading Giles followed her. He ended up following her to the next town over. She pulled into a cemetery and drove almost to the very back of the place.

Giles had parked the car just outside the cemetery hoping she hadn't seen him. Getting out of the car he went to find Kennedy. He found her standing in front of a tombstone. Next thing he knew she fell to her knees, sobbing so hard she could barely breath. After a few moments he couldn't stand seeing her like that.

He bent down next to her, placing a hand on her back, "I killed him G. I killed him, it was completely and utterly all my fault." She sobbed.

"Who Kennedy?" He softly asked.

Looking at the tombstone, "My husband, I killed my husband."

Giles looked over to see it was her dead husband. "I thought he had a heart attack."

"I…I lied because I couldn't face what I did." Placing her face in her hands.

Throwing a arm around her, "I highly doubt you killed him."

"You don't understand." Running to her car.

He caught up with her, "Why don't you tell me then?"

"I can't." Burying herself into his chest.

Wrapping his arms around Kennedy, "You can."

Sniffling, she leaned against her car and slowly slid to the floor, "We were coming back from a party. Jack wasn't feeling good so I said I'd drive. And I started to fall asleep at the wheel. I jerked awake just in time to see a animal in the middle of the street. I swerved to get out of the way from it and the car flipped over." She paused to cry, Giles sat next to her and Kennedy curled up to him. "When I came to I was still in the car that was upside down and Jack was not in it. I crawled out in pain and panic wondering where he was. When I got to my feet I found Jack laying in the middle of the road. When I ran to his side he was coughing hard and spitting up blood. Oh god he was in so much pain. Next thing I knew he died in my arms, you know that? In these very arms." Holding them up.

"Is that why you came to Sunnydale?" He asked.

Wiping a few tears away, "Yes. I was running away."

"What does that make me then?" Giles stood.

Looking up at a slightly irritated Giles, "What?"

"Am I just some guy you used to get over your dead husband?"

Getting up, "Oh god no, you were a breath of fresh air. I was drowning when I met you. Jack had been dead a year when I came to Sunnydale. Living here was making it hard for me to move on. Then when I met you, everything seemed to fall into place. That I can move on. When I went to Rome I realize that going a day without you is impossible and that I was over my husband and ready to move on. I am ready to start a new life and that is with you."

"What about the fact that you neglected to tell me this about you and your husband?" He said angrily.

Sighing, "There is no answer I can give you that you are going to like."

"Try me."

Sniffling, "I wanted to forget my past and start a new. Start a fresh new life with you and everyone I made friends with in Sunnydale."

"You still could of told me."

Looking to the floor, "I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me now."

"I cannot."

Tilting her head a little "Cannot?"

"I cannot do that because I love you and I never want to go a day without you again." He told her.

Kennedy jumped into Giles arms, the momentum from her caused them to fall over. She sat up straddling him.

Grinning, "Do you really mean that?" Kennedy asked.

"Yes." Propping himself up on his elbows.

She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him hard, "I am very sorry for not telling you that sooner."

"You had your reasons, just don't do it again." He kissed her back.

Getting up, "I make no promises."

"So you'd lie to me again?" Getting up as well.

"What if I have this really awesome present for like your birthday or Christmas or something and I want it to be a surprise? Can I lie to you then?"

Brushing himself off, "That is ok."

"What if Buffy, Willow or Xander have a surprise for you and include me in it? Is it ok to lie to you then?" Reaching her car.

Moving in front of her, "Yes."

"What if…" Giles placed a hand on her mouth to get her to stop. Moving his hand away, "Could of just said stop."

Placing his hands behind him, "I liked this way better. Oh and one more thing and I will never inquire about it again. Why did you visit Jacks grave today?"

"Today is the anniversary of the accident and his death." Kennedy softly answered.

Giles gave her a hug, "It's going to be ok."

"When do you think the guilt will stop?" Looking up at him.

Tucking some hair behind her ear, "I don't know honestly. You were in a tremendous accident. Could be awhile."

"No the guilt for moving on? I know it's mean, but he was my husband."

Letting her go, "Do you love me?"

"What?"

Taking a step back, "Do you love me? You give me this long thing about not wanting to be without me. And I tell you that I love you and you're feeling guilty for moving on."

"I do though." Tears streaming down her face.

"See right there! You cannot even tell me you love me." When Kennedy went to speak Giles threw up a hand and walked off. Kennedy fell against her car crying harder than before.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Buffy just my character.