No More Farewells - Chapter 3
After saying goodbye to his friend, Giles headed back to the museum. He found it interesting that both Xander and Dawn had told him to keep things simple, to demonstrate his sincerity, albeit in different ways. He shook his head. It was something he would need to think through, but first he had to focus and finalize his presentation for the conference.
Upon sitting at his desk and checking his email, he spent the next several hours revising his outline and making necessary changes and edits to his presentation before falling asleep at his desk. The raucously cheery tune of his mobile startled him out of his slumber and as he rose from his 'pillow' of papers, one stuck to his cheek and he pulled it off in consternation as he reached for his phone.
"Giles here," he answered gruffly.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Buffy replied with amusement. After eight years, she'd know his 'I just woke up' voice anywhere. Lord knows she had caught him asleep at the research table often enough after a long night of scouring books trying to find information on how to kill a demon or information on some prophecy for her.
"Buffy," he managed around the grogginess. "Dear lord, what time is it? I-I mean how are you?"
She let out a little chuckle. "It's just after seven in the morning your time. I'm fine, just not in California anymore."
"Ah, yes, I had dinner with Xander last night. He told me he sent you to Paris."
"He did. Did you have a good time catching up?"
"Yes, and we have plans for the first official Scooby movie night for when you return. He will make sure Willow is on board."
"I can't wait!" Buffy declared with obvious pleasure.
"How are you liking Paris?"
"From what little I've seen, it's beautiful. Unfortunately I'm stuck inside a government building twelve hours or more a day with a bunch of politicians who don't understand the words negotiation and collaboration." Buffy sighed as she sat down on her bed and looked out the window. "I do have a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower from my hotel room, though."
"Hopefully you will have some time to explore the city," he said with a small smile.
"Hopefully," she agreed, trying not to think of romantic evening walks along the Seine under the Parisian lights with him .
Having exhausted that line of conversation, Giles changed the subject. "So, uh, your sister phoned the other day, breaking her silence so she could yell at me."
Buffy let out a little chuckle. "Are you properly chastened now?"
"We've come to an understanding and we are on the mend."
"I'm glad," she replied sincerely. "We had a little chat while I was there. By the time I left, she was still undecided as to whether she should forgive you."
"Thank you for the intervention," he said softly, though he was fairly certain it wasn't her talk that led to Dawn's capitulation.
"Glad to help," she answered cheerily.
"Well it is appreciated, for what it is worth." He knew their conversation was wrapping up, but he was loathe to say goodbye just yet. "Buffy," he started with a little trepidation, not sure whether he should even bring the subject up.
"Yes?"
"I am not sure when you will be home, but I will be arriving in Paris Wednesday morning. If… if you are still there…" Giles stopped to gather his thoughts. He hadn't been this nervous in a long time. "You see, I am attending a conference… and I-I'm giving a presentation at the École du Louvre the following evening."
"The Louvre? That's great, Giles!" she beamed, happy for his success. She knew it was an honor to be chosen to present at these conferences.
"Thank you! If you are… if you happen to be free, I'd be honored if you would accompany me as my guest for the evening. Th-There is a reception that follows. My boss neglected to tell me that I would be the keynote speaker. O-of course, the subject matter is a bit dry-"
"Giles," she interrupted, knowing she shouldn't accept his invitation, that it probably wasn't a good idea, but hearing him stutter and babble his way through it warmed her heart.
"Yes?" He tried to calm the pounding in his chest. Why would she want to attend such a stuffy event? If she had any free time, she would want to explore the city.
"I'd be delighted to be your guest."
He sat there speechless for a moment, not trusting his good fortune. "Thank you," he finally replied softly.
She shook her head and added regretfully, "But I can't guarantee that I will be able to come," she said. "If I can convince my French colleagues that it's not their way or the Champs Élysée when it comes to my Slayers and Watchers, and come to an agreement on how to do business, then I will be there. If not, it will be a late night and no doubt another day in the trenches on Friday."
"I am sure you will have them towing the line in short order."
"I wish I had your confidence in me," she said with a sigh. "I'm no diplomat."
Giles heard the doubt in her voice and sought to reassure her. "No, you aren't," he agreed genially. "You are the highly successful CEO of a large international organization and your success is rooted in instinct and past experience. Now you are dealing with two government agencies that are used to handling things internally, and yet they know they need help from the outside. Follow your instincts and I know you will come out of the deal with the upper hand. You've proven yourself time and again."
"Right. I should trust my gut!" Buffy agreed with false confidence. "Though sometimes I think you have too much faith in me," she said sadly.
"Buffy, I have witnessed most of your successes and your… not so successful ventures over the last eight years. You have learnt from past mistakes and you have applied those lessons, coming out stronger for it. You wouldn't be where you are today if that weren't the case."
"I know you're right. I can do this. I'm just… tired," she admitted. It had been a long couple days of tough talks with a new round starting in less than an hour and she hadn't really had time to recover from the jet lag, not to mention the emotionally draining days following the last encounter she had with Giles.
"So… should I email my agenda to Alan?"
"Nah, just send it directly to me. Fancy dress?"
"A dress certainly. It's not a black tie affair, but it is an excuse for historians, archaeologists, and preservationists to look smart."
"A time to change the dusty khakis and hang up the tweed?" Buffy bantered.
"Most certainly."
"Ooo, I've been looking for an excuse to dress up all girly. I found the perfect dress when I was in LA. It might turn an academic head or two," she teased in an almost sing song manner, hoping to pique his interest before realizing she was flirting again.
She inwardly swore at herself. What was it about him that disarmed her so? That made her forget that she was supposed to be guarding her heart? That she was supposed to be aloof and mulling over her decision as to whether to give their relationship a chance?
"Oh yes?" Giles asked, his voice growing husky. "Do tell."
"Nope. I don't want to ruin the surprise." Oh well, she was flirting.
"Perhaps just a hint?" he flirted back with a hint of amusement in his tone. "So I know how to find you in the sea of scholars attending the talk?"
Buffy was sure that if they were in the same room, she would see his green eyes sparkle mischievously.
"I'll be the one who isn't the scholar," she responded with a laugh. Suddenly the room phone rang and she gave a sigh of resignation. "That's my cue. The car is here to pick me up for the day."
"How disappointing," Giles lamented at the end of their little game, though he did try valiantly to make her ignore the call. "Not even a little hint?"
She smiled, knowing he was as disappointed as she was with the interruption. "Looks like I'll just have to surprise you."
"Fine, but if I mistake you for Doctor Feinstein, it will be entirely your own fault!" he huffed playfully.
"If she's short and blonde you may have an issue."
"He's six foot three, stout, balding, and sports a goatee."
"You are so in trouble, Mister Giles!"
"That's Doctor Giles," he corrected with amusement, but then he turned serious. "It was good hearing from you, Buffy, thank you for the call. Should you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."
"Bye, Giles, and thank you." She hung up and answered the hotel phone. It was indeed the driver. Grabbing her purse, she headed down to the lobby where he waited, bemused at how she could be taken in by Giles so easily and berating herself for it, yet she couldn't help but smile at the anticipation of seeing him again.
Giles sat staring at his phone for several moments after he hung up. From his conversation with Dawn the other day, that was not the type of call he was expecting from Buffy - not one that had her accepting an evening out, nor one in which she outright flirted with him. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. He had hope. And an idea started to form in his head on what he would do to prove himself and win her heart.