Chapter 18: Rupert

"I'm really glad we got to have dinner," Buffy said. She leaned on the railings of Giles' balcony and stared out at the night. "We get so caught up in Hellmouthy stuff I kinda forgot there's nice parts about being alive. Dressing up and feeling pretty." She looked over her shoulder at Giles, who was leaning against the wall near the sliding glass door leading to his room, hands in his pockets and watching her. "Dancing."

He smiled and stepped forward, leaning against the railing with her. "Normal conversation and camaraderie." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No apocalypse and mayhem for a short time. It was a wonderful evening."

They looked out over the lights of the city, of the oddly light theme park, of traffic and homes in the distance. Buffy leaned her head until it was resting against his shoulder. After a time of silence, a sigh escaped her.

"We're going home tomorrow." Giles hummed an agreement. "Back to slaying and death and job hunting."

"And child-rearing."

Buffy rolled her eyes and looked up at him. "Way to remind me I'm a single mom."

"Dawn will be fine, Buffy. She has an entire network of people loving and protecting her as best they know how. But she looks up to you. You're her strongest tie to this world. We still haven't figured out what happened when she was so upset with your father. We haven't even begun to look into that." Giles sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "And quite honestly, I don't know if she wants to. I think she's very afraid, and she doesn't want to feel alone right now. All you have to do is be there, as you have been. She'll be fine."

They slipped into another silence, close to one another. Inevitably, rebellious thoughts of the tango entered their minds.

Buffy wanted to dance again, as much as possible, and was warring with herself about all the tension – the reawakening complications and confusion – she felt about Giles. She'd never felt so conflicted. She gave grudging admittance that he was attractive, that he didn't deserve all the terrible things she'd said about him in the past, and that maybe she'd been too young, too blind or just too stupid to see an amazing thing staring her in the face.

And maybe Giles wouldn't see it either… which would mean he'd turn down any thought of exploring a new avenue in their relationship.

Giles was wondering what asinine possession took over his ability to see reason and allow them to tango at all. He'd forgotten all about his initial reaction to learning about Dawn's parentage, and now those thoughts, images, and urges were assaulting his brain again. He stepped away from Buffy when grew uncomfortable, heading back towards the room after muttering a request for pardon.

"Giles, wait."

He sighed. He turned to her, his shoulders and back tense. "Yes?"

"Tonight, when we danced, a-and we told a story," she said, taking a few steps toward him.

"Yes?"

"It was Seduction, wasn't it?" She licked her lip, chanced a glance at his before looking him in the eye again. "Seduction, Passion, and Sparring. A story about a couple."

"Yes."

"Giles, was… can I ask you a question?"

He took a step closer, concerned now. "Of course, Buffy."

"Was that story… was it about us?"

He studied her for a moment before answering "No," and turning from her. He started to walk away. "It was just a story."

"Oh." She took a fortifying breath. "Can it be?"

He paused and turned half-way, looking over his shoulder at her. "I'm sorry?"

"Can the story be about us? Is that – is it even possible?"

Giles stared at her. At first he wasn't sure what to do or say. How was it she could always find a way to surprise him? And she'd asked with such uncertainty. Almost fearful. When the silence grew uncomfortable, Buffy fidgeted and turned from him, her arms crossed as she looked back over the city.

"Nevermind. Stupid question."

It took maybe a quarter of a second for Giles to realize he had a decision to make. The worst option was to go inside, leaving her here to mull over and berate herself for asking at all, which he refused outright. He could stay out here and talk with her, explaining with great care that there were too many reasons her question, while touching, was a bad idea, and should therefore not be explored at all. Or he could find a way to tell her that it wasn't a stupid question at all, and find out how she'd like to proceed with exploring this new possibility in their relationship.

"Bugger it," he muttered, and within two steps, had his hands on her shoulders. A second later he had her turned around, his hands bracing her neck and head. Without pause, without stuttering questions and stilted conversation, he leaned down, crushing his lips to hers.

His hands traveled down, hugging and lifting her. He pressed her body to the railing, one hand planted behind her back while the other dove into her hair. Buffy tilted her head and opened her lips, inviting him in, and curled her hands behind his neck.

They broke apart, staring at one another a moment.

"Yes," Giles said, running the pad of his thumb across her cheek. "It can be about us, if you'd like."

"I was hoping you'd say that," she replied, and leaned forward, kissing him again.

They stayed like that for some time, kissing, exploring, getting lost in the moment. Finally Giles broke their kisses and hugged her, brushing his lips on her neck just below her ear. Buffy shivered and tightened her hold on him, their bodies pressed closer together.

"You should probably go back to your room, now. Dawn will be worried."

Buffy sighed and tipped her head forward, groaning. "Yeah. If we go too fast you'll get all awkward and disappear from embarrassment."

Giles chuckled and gave a quick lick at that same sensitive spot, relishing her yelp.

"Just because this is new between us doesn't mean I'm new to everything, Buffy."

"Well that sounds promising," she said, leaning back to look him in the eye. "I'll see you tomorrow for breakfast?"

He nodded and gave her a light peck on the lips. "Breakfast it is."

She smiled and he stepped back carefully, letting her slide down. She avoided the teasing remark that fired in her brain when she felt just how much he'd enjoyed their make-out session.

"Goodnight, Giles."

"Rupert."

She wrinkled her nose and then grinned, kissing his chin. "Rupert."

He nodded and gave her backside a pat as she walked away. "Goodnight, Buffy."