Just so I don't forget (again) that people apparently LIKE my writing, I've decided to post the rest of the story. Yes it IS completed after the next chapter. And I think you'll like what I've done to four of my favorite characters! (sniggers)

Facing Home
bahocean

Summary: Buffy's side of the decision.

Same time as Sara's and Gil's date...

Buffy was sniggering inwardly. She had never seen her Watcher as fidgety and nervous as Dr. Rupert Giles was at this point. It was obvious he wanted to ask her about what she had decided about them.

She put him out of his misery...sort of. "So who do you think has hurt the other more...me or you?"

Giles was startled. He was trying to figure out how to convince her to let him stay in Rome...or go to England with him. As Head of the Watcher's Council, he did have a great deal of leeway as to where he lived. "What?"

"Well, let's see. I knocked you out, left Angelus alive so he could kill Ms. Calendar and torture you, ran away and didn't contact you for three months, didn't tell you Angel was back, ignored you my freshman year of college, threatened to kill you if you went near Dawn, died on you, leaned on you far too hard, although I still feel just a little justified in that, didn't explain to you about Spike's chip, didn't listen to you countless of times, and finally, told you I loved you and ran away. I'm sure I left some stuff out, but that's enough to get my point across.

"On your side, you put me through that test, told me I didn't need a Watcher...twice, ran away when I needed you, told me I had to be a leader and instead of LETTING me lead, you disapproved of every command decision I made, and ran away when I told you I loved you."

Giles was stunned by the "Buffy speech" he had just been subjected to. He had no idea that she had CATALOGUED every wrong each had done to the other! It amazed him every time he spoke to her how she had grown from the 16-year-old who had just wanted to party with her friends.

"On the whole, I think I come out on top in the "Who hurt the other more?" contest."

Rupert found his voice. "We're competing?"

"Not really. I blow away the competition."

"You always have for me." The admiration in his voice made her blush.

"Rupert, we've been very careless with each other. We haven't cared for each other the way we ought to. That's gonna have to change. We're gonna have to REALLY put all that pain in the past and work from here if we want to have a relationship based on more than just our Watcher/Slayer bond."

Rupert wanted to dance. Buffy sounded like she was going to give him a chance. "So are you willing to give me a chance? Another, real chance?"

"Possibly..."

End Facing Home