Hey, folks! I honestly tried to post multiple times yesterday and it wouldn't upload. I kept getting an error message. So here is...

Chapter 6

Once they were back at the property, Andrew met them before they even got to the porch. He immediately started rambling at Giles who said nothing. He followed Giles up the stairs and to his door. Giles closed and locked the door in Andrew's face. Buffy was standing at her door and watched as Andrew stared at the door dejectedly. He looked at Buffy. "What's climbed up his bum?" He narrowed his eyes. "What did you do?"

She wanted to answer but she wasn't sure what to say. Instead she just looked to the floor and squeezed her eyes shut. She felt the beginning stings of tears in her eyes.

"Buffy?" Andrew's voice was close to her and she looked up. He had a concerned look and Buffy couldn't handle it. She let the tears fall and hugged Andrew. "Oh. Okay. We're hugging now." He patted her back awkwardly. When a sob shook her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Hey, its okay," he whispered. "I'm sure whatever it is will work out. He can never stay mad at you for very long."

"What if I ruined it?"

"Ruined what?"

"Hey, what's wrong?" Willow asked as she came up the stairs and saw Buffy in tears.

Buffy released Andrew and wiped at her face. "Just an emotional day is all. I just need to relax and I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked as she placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder.

She nodded. "Yeah. A nice, hot shower and a glass of wine and I'll be right as rain. Whatever that means." She turned to her door and opened it. "Goodnight, guys."

"Night," Willow called out as Buffy closed the door. After her shower, she sat on the bed. She wanted to hear Tony's voice, but it was the middle of the night, almost early morning, back home. Deciding she wouldn't mind if it were the other way around, she called.

The phone rang four times before a sleepy Italian voice answered. "Si, ciao?"

Buffy smiled. "Hey la amante."

"Buffy?"

"Expecting someone else?" she teased.

He groaned. "What time is it?"

"It's half past 20 hundred here. So... 2:30 there."

"Cosa ce di sbagliato?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to talk to you. I miss you."

"Mi marchi anche tu," he said with a grin. "Excited to see you soon."

"How's Giselle?"

He sighed. "She's... getting better. I worry about leaving her. Even if for a few days."

"She has Leesa and Kimber with her, too. She won't be alone. We need time for us, too, you know." She knew she sounded whiny, but at the moment she didn't much care.

"I know, amante. I know." He yawned. "I am going to sleep now. You should as well."

Buffy sighed. "Yeah, I guess. Ti amo."

"Ti amo, Buffy. E buona notte."

"Buona notte." She ended the call and sighed once again. It wasn't quite dark out yet and Buffy was feeling restless. Even after walking most of the day. She changed into her yoga capris and a sports bra. A run would do her good.

Giles lay in his bed staring at the ceiling. His mind was reeling with everything that had happened between he and Buffy that day. She had been unusually "handsy" that day. They had never been ones to hold hands or hug for no reason. Yet, today, she regularly held onto his hand or arm. And he had enjoyed it. He had spent so much time away from her the last few years that he drank in every ounce of normalcy she offered.

Then, at the pier, when she had wrapped his arms around. He had wanted to kiss her, but looked away before he acted. Only it hadn't been enough. He held her tighter and nuzzled her. Then she turned and he had been half a heartbeat away from her lips when Grace popped up.

In all honesty, he had been thankful for the distraction. Had it been just the two of them, he would have done it. But there was Antony, too. Giles didn't like him and he definitely didn't trust him. When he had been selected as a Watcher into the new Council, Giles had high hopes for him. He had then taken up with Buffy in Rome and he became weary. But she was his Slayer. Always would be. He couldn't just stop worrying about her.

Then, there had been the funeral. He knew it wasn't the place to bring up his concerns about Antony. He honestly had not planned to. But one conversation lead to another, lead to another, lead to a screaming fight and two years of not talking. Bethany, whom he had been married to for almost a year at that point, had even accused him of making things up just to separate Buffy and Antony.

He had never seriously entertained the idea of he and Buffy as a couple. He had, of course, found her attractive. What man wouldn't? There had been a few fantasies, but they somehow always felt... wrong afterwards. He had never considered asking her out. To court her. But, suddenly, here he was; holding her, touching her, ready to kiss her.

The moment at the fountain also found him near kissing her. She smiled so sweetly at him and any thought of Antony fled his mind. Then there were the graveyards. And the pub. They had been touching one way or another the entire time.

That is, until the waitress had started to flirt with him. He hadn't flirted back, not wanting to encourage her. But Buffy had pulled away. She had distanced herself and quieted down. So when they had reached the meeting place, he had just wanted to soothe her tension.

But he had apparently misread the entire situation. She turned on him, reminding him she was unavailable. He felt sick with himself. He had finally started getting back into a good place with Buffy and he had gone and screwed it all up. He wasn't sure what to do now. He would just take his queue from her and go from there. But for now, he needed some fresh air.

Buffy finished her run with a cool off walk through the gardens. It was dark out now, but that obviously had never bothered her. She had scanned the grounds for any unnatural activity and was not surprised when she found and sensed nothing. So, when her senses started tingling when she approached the house, she was a little on edge. She froze and looked around the yard.

"I'm here," a voice said from the porch, causing her to jump.

"Geez, Giles. Give me a heart attack already."

"You couldn't tell it was me?"

Buffy climbed up the stairs to find Giles sitting on the porch swing. "I knew it wasn't evil." She stood in front of him, hands on her hips. "I hadn't expected to sense anything. And with you..." she trailed off. She dropped her arms and moved to sit next to him. He gave her some extra room. "It's been a while with you."

He nodded but didn't look at her. They just sat silently on the swing together. He wanted to talk, to apologize, but he didn't want to make things worse between them either. Right now they were sitting amicably together. Why risk that?

After what seemed about five minutes of silence, Buffy moved over, closing the few inches of space between them. He moved his arm to the back of the swing, behind her shoulders. She laid her head against his shoulder.

"Buffy?" he whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I don't know what to do."

"Me either." She snuggled in closer to him and he dropped his hand to her arm, softly rubbing his thumb back and forth. "But I like this."

Giles kissed the top of her head. "As do I." He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. "Buffy," he sighed, raising his head. She looked up at him. "You have Anto-."

"Shh," she cut him off. She raised a finger to his lips. "Don't." He looked confused. "Just... us. Remember?" She trailed her finger over his jaw, looking at his lips.

"Just Watcher and Slayer?"

"Just Giles and Buffy." In half a second, his lips were on hers. It was hard and fierce. Buffy reached up and cupped her hand behind his neck, holding him against her. Giles shifted to face her better and deepen the kiss. She opened her mouth to him and both groaned with the contact. He put his hand on her hip and pulled her closer. Her other hand also went to the back of his head. She tried to get onto his lap, but then the swing moved and tipped them forward. Giles fell on top of Buffy on the porch.

"Umph!"

"Oh... dear lord..." he groaned. He pushed himself onto his elbows and looked down at her. She had her hands over her face and was shaking. "Buffy? Are you alright?" She nodded her head and a strange, almost strangled, sound came from her. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Concern was evident in his voice. He tried to get up and hit his back on the seat edge of the swing. He groaned and rolled to the side, laying down next to her. He turned his head and now saw that she was laughing.

"Are... are you okay?" she laughed.

He once again groaned. "Just my wounded pride." She laughed harder. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and started to calm down. "Oh, Giles. You rocked my world." It was his turn to laugh. She got to her feet and helped him stand. Once he was upright, Buffy continued to hold his hand. He brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek. She turned and kissed his palm.

"I'm not sure I can resist you," he whispered.

"Then don't." She leaned forward and gently kissed him.

"You'll hate me for this," he said in between soft, romantic kisses.

"I'll hate myself if we don't."

A knock on the screen door caused them to break their kiss and jump apart. Alex stood there with his face fully pressed against the screen, bright green eyes staring at them. "Can I have some ice cream?"

Giles cleared his throat. "What did your mother say?"

"Mums sleepin'."

"Oh." Buffy opened the screen door. Alex stepped back as the two adults entered. "Well, I guess what she doesn't know can't hurt her, right?" Alex giggled. "Besides, what are Aunts for if not spoiling their nephews?"

Buffy lead the way to the kitchen, scoping it out. There was no one she could see, so they entered. In the freezer she found three different ice cream flavors. Buffy and Alex had chocolate while Giles had strawberry. After the mess, which included Alex's face, was cleaned up, they all headed upstairs.

"Aunt Buffy, can I sleep in your room tonight?"

Buffy looked to Giles who had raised a brow and was sporting a smirk. "I, umm, I don't think that's a good idea. Your mom will get worried when she wakes up and you're gone."

"We could leave her a note," he said hopefully.

"Umm..."

Alex wrapped his arms around her. "Please? I miss you bunches."

Buffy looked back at Giles who was now covering his mouth with his hand. "Oh, how can I say no to that?"

"Yes!" He let go of Buffy and ran into her room, jumping on the bed. "Don't forget the note!"

Giles chuckled. "Oh, if his father could see him now. He would be impressed."

"I just hope he doesn't snore like him."

Giles stood close to her and spoke quietly. "If I told you I missed you bunches, could I get into your bed as well?"

"Get out of here," she giggled and playfully pushed him away.

He put his hand over his heart. "Already being pushed out for someone younger."

"Say goodnight, Alex," she said over her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Alex," the boy called out. Giles leaned down and kissed her cheek. He winked as he walked just to the next door down. Buffy sat on the bed next to Alex and sighed. "Rupes and Aunt Buffy sitting in a tree..." he sang.