Exploring Home
Bethany A. Hall
Paining: B/G, G/S
Summary: When two heartbroken friends get together, what happens next?

Remember, this series is an older one written 5 or 6 YEARS ago. Hope you like it anyway!

Rome, Italy

Buffy Summers, Senior Slayer, waited at the airport for her friend to arrive from Vegas. It had been a surprise to hear from Sara, the one woman she had saved that cared more for the why she'd been saved than the how there were vampires. They had met in Los Angeles during Buffy's high school years and kept happily in touch ever since.

Buffy sighed. From the sound of her friend's voice, Sara was struggling with her life at the moment, romantically and otherwise. Sometimes the two women's lives mirrored each other in such strange ways.

Her mind turned to her own romantic dilemma. Rupert Giles. She had never been able to figure him out when her Watcher slammed down his walls. She had always been the one person who could make it through the emotional marathon man's defenses. But now, it was as if she wasn't his Slayer, had never been. He had frozen her out so thoroughly she was surprised she didn't have frostbite. She had no idea what to think. And the fact that the man she had only recently realized she loved was in another COUNTRY just added to the drama that was Buffy's life.

"FLIGHT 1223 FROM NEW YORK NOW ARRIVING AT GATE 13."

Buffy was startled by the announcement of Sara's flight. She looked around for the baggage claim and saw it a few feet away from her. She shook her head clear of the dire romantic thoughts she'd been having. Now wasn't the time. Helping Sara was.

She saw the taller brunette stride down the hall and called her name. The two women hugged.

Buffy and Sara tracked her luggage and settled in the Roman version of a cab before chatting about inconsequential things, and in Buffy's home before the talk turned to deeper things.

"So he finally drove you off, huh?"

Sara glared at her younger friend. "Actually, not really. My life drove me off. He's just sitting in the passenger seat at this time."

Buffy laughed bitterly. "I know the feeling."

Both women looked glum. They sat in silence for a moment until Sara spoke.

"Is it just that they're older and in a position of authority, or is it in addition to the fact that they're scared idiots?"

Buffy thought for a minute. "Both?"

"What are we going to do? I'm so tired of banging my head against a brick wall. If he's never going to open the door, I want to know for sure. I don't want to feel like I'm storming the building."

Buffy took Sara's hand in hers. "You're talking to the woman whose love is HIDING in ANOTHER COUNTRY. My relationship history should be copied and distributed to all women with a warning attached: 'Don't be like Buffy.'"

"What happened, Buffy?" Sara asked curiously.

"I told him."

"And?"

"I'm in Italy, he's in England. You tell me."

Sara sighed. "I know Giles loves you, Buffy. Willow knows. Xander knows. The TREES know. HE knows you have a shortened life span. Why can't he just get past the age difference and spend the time you have left together being HAPPY?"

"Probably the same reason Grissom can't get his head out of his ass and realize the same thing? Sara, the men we love were raised in an era where emotions were looked down on. Giles grew up in ENGLAND, the capital of emotional repression, for crying out loud! Wewere raised with fathers that were the epitome of wrong and distant. They're struggling with this in so many ways. Maybe they think we see them as replacement father figures."

Sara snorted. "Oh yeah, like I'd ever want to jump my father."

"And my dad never looked as good in jeans as Giles does."

"Good point."

The women laughed.

Sara looked thoughtful. "Which brings me to my next question. What are we going to do?"

Buffy offered, "Go shopping?"

They were out the door.

End Exploring Home