As promised, second chapter posted early. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

On the ship, Buffy sat at a table with Dawn, Jake, Nessa, and Penny. There was once again an empty seat at their table.

"Giles!" Dawn called out. She waved him over. He excused himself from whom he was speaking with and walked over. "You're sitting here with us." She indicated the open chair.

Giles looked surprised. "Are you certain? I don't mind sitting elsewhere."

"Don't be ridiculous," Dawn said. "You're family. Sit." Giles smiled and sat at the round table between Buffy and Penny. "I'm so glad you came. I know I said it before, but I really am. You have been more of a father to me than," Dawn trailed off. "Well, anyway, it means a lot to me that you are here."

"Dawn, I have watched you grow from this little bundle of energy," he winked, "to this beautiful young lady before me. I couldn't love you more if you were my own daughter. I wouldn't have missed this."

"Oh my, that was so beautiful." Penny had her hand over her heart. Giles turned down his gaze and blushed. Buffy reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze.

Once the ship had set sail, Dawn greeted and thanked everyone in a welcome speech. When she was finished, the food started being served.

"So, Mr. Giles," Penny started, "Dawn tells us you run a school back home."

"Umm, yes. It's a private school for girls. And, please, call me Rupert."

"Rupert," she said with a smile. "What is the name of your school, Rupert?" She practically purred his name.

Giles was starting to feel nervous. Not only about the questions, but at the way Penny was leering at him. "Athens Preparatory," he replied.

"Oh. I haven't heard of that one."

"It's very private," Buffy stated.

"Rupert, I would love to come visit your school sometime." Penny touched his arm.

"We don't generally give public tours." He continued looking down at his food.

"Very private," Buffy repeated. "Ow!" Dawn had kicked at her under the table. The girls shot deadly glares at one another.

"So, what's for dessert?" Jake asked in a cheerful manner in an attempt to break the tension.

Once the main course had been cleared and the dessert brought around, the live band started to play. It was a light jazz band and perfectly fit the atmosphere. Buffy was sipping her wine when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up at Andrew who had his hand out. "Care to dance, M'Lady?"

Buffy smiled. "I'd love to." She took his hand and followed him to the dance floor. He placed one hand on her waist and kept hers in his other. They moved with ease. "Andrew, I'm impressed. You move so gracefully. I thought for sure we'd be stepping on each other."

"And you still said yes." Buffy chuckled. "Mr. Giles has been teaching me."

"Really? Now that I would like to see."

"Give him a few more drinks and I'll try." Both giggled. "I've missed you, Buffy. I know we were never really friends before, but you are like a ball of sunshine. You make everything brighter. Especially Mr. Giles."

"Aww, Andrew."

"These past two years he has been downright miserable. We lost Xander, we lost you, his bitch wife cheated and he lost her. Even though, honestly, good riddance. He's just been so... I don't know, sad, I guess. Lonely."

"Why didn't you call me?" Buffy asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Andrew pulled her closer so he could speak into her ear as others joined the dance floor. "Would you have cared? After what he told you about Tony, would you have even listened?"

Honestly, Buffy didn't know. The pain of Xander's death and Giles' accusations were all still so fresh, she probably wouldn't have listened. Then again, if she knew all Giles had been going through with his now ex-wife, she may have dropped it all and gone to him. Much like she had after Faith had died.

"I'd like to believe I would. I get what you're saying though. All of this has sucked."

"I'm gonna be honest. I was kind of dreading this trip," Andrew said. "I thought for sure you two would be at each others throats." Buffy bit back a small smile as she pictured Giles kissing her neck. "But you guys are getting along great. I'm glad."

"Me, too." Now she did smile. "I was nervous about it, too, but it has been good. I miss having him around."

"He misses you, too. We all do." They danced silently until the song ended. Andrew kissed the back of Buffy's hand and walked her back to her table.

Penny had moved her seat right up next to Giles and was leaning in as close as possible, giggling like a school girl. Buffy sat in her seat on the other side of him and moved closer also. She looped her arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder.

Once there was a break in the conversation with Penny, he asked Buffy if she had enjoyed her dance. "Very much. You taught him well."

"Oh, he, uh, told you that, did he?"

"Mmm hmm," she smiled up at him.

"Rupert, I would love for you to show me some of your moves," Penny purred.

"Uh, I, umm... alright." He disengaged from Buffy with a look and made his way to the dance floor with Penny.

Buffy pushed down the ridiculous feeling of jealousy she was having as she watched them walk away together. Dawn pulled a seat close to Buffy and sat. "Aren't they just adorbs together?" Dawn asked.

"Uh, sure, I guess."

"Do you think he likes her? Jake said his mom was interested. Think it could work with them?"

Buffy gave Dawn an incredulous look. "Are you actually trying to set them up?!"

Dawn gave her a look as if it was obvious. "Well, yeah!"

Buffy wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say without it coming off as suspicious. She looked back at Penny and Giles. Could he actually be happy with her? She was more his age, not to mention sophisticated. And single. Something Buffy very much was not. But Giles was... well, she didn't know any more. He wasn't exactly hers. And it wasn't as if she were in love with him or anything... right?

"I mean," Dawn continued on, "yeah, there is an ocean in the way, but so what? They could Skype and visit on another. Hell, maybe she would even move there! Not sure what he would tell her about the Slayers, though. Girls showing up all bloodied and bruised at all hours of the night. Sheesh! Talk about a mood killer."

"There would be a mood to kill?"

Dawn looked her sister over oddly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. It's just..." Buffy sighed.

"You miss Tony?"

Buffy gave her sister a small smile. "Yeah." She wasn't sure what else she should say. No, I miss Giles? It should be me out there with him? Tony who?

Dawn laid her head against Buffy's shoulder. "He'll be here soon, Sis. Don't worry."

But worry she did. After all, that was part of her dilemma.

Buffy started mingling to distract herself as Giles and Penny danced to a second song. Then a third. As a fourth started, Jake came and asked for a dance with his future sister. "I'm sorry for my mother," he said quietly as the gently swayed. "I didn't realize."

"Realize what?"

"That you and Rupert had a thing."

Buffy stopped and looked alarmed. "How did you know that?" she whispered harshly.

Jake smiled. "I didn't. Not really. I had a strong hunch. The way you two keep stealing glances at one another. Its like the cat and the cream."

They began dancing once again. "I didn't know I was being so obvious."

"I'm just slightly more observant than most folks. I'm gonna help you out." Buffy gazed at him quizzically as he lead them closer to the other couple until they were side by side. "Rupert, mind if I cut in and take this lovely lady off your hands for a moment?"

"Not at all." Giles stepped back and Jake stepped in. He winked at Buffy as he started to lead his mother away.

Buffy turned towards Giles to see him staring at her. She smiled. "Hi."

"Hello." He returned her smile and held his hand out to her. She took it and he held her close as they danced together. They remained silent as they finished out the song and through the next one. When that one ended, Giles pulled back. He remained a hold on her right hand as he lead her off the dance floor and on to the open deck. They leaned on the railing as they looked towards the shore in the fading light. They both took in their surrounding environment. The sound of the waves, the smell of the air, the feel of the breeze and the rocking of the ship. It was practically perfect. Buffy leaned her head against him. He turned and kissed her hair.

After minutes of silence between them, Giles was the one to speak first. "We should talk about earlier."

Buffy sighed. "Do we have to?"

"This afternoon," he continued, "was absolutely amazing. Getting to spend that time with you, being with you, it was beyond measure. I don't want you to think that I regret it. Not for a moment." He heavily sighed and looked down at the water. "However, I'm not the one currently involved with another."

"Giles-".

He continued on. "I understand that I have put you in a very difficult situation. I know that it should not happen again. Whether or not you choose to tell... him about today's events, well..." he met her watery eyes and it nearly broke his heart, "I will support whatever you choose."

Buffy was on the verge of tears. She knew what he said was true, that it shouldn't happen again and he didn't regret that they had in the first place. So why did she feel as if she were being dumped? A tear escaped down her cheek and she quickly turned away, but not fast enough. His hands cupped her face as he made her face him. He brushed the tear away with his thumb. "What if..." she swallowed. Was she really about to say this? "What if I want it to happen again?"

"Buffy..."

"I don't regret any of it either. And I know I'm with-". She took a deep breath. "Being with you was, what did you say? Beyond measure. And I don't just mean the sex was good. It was, by the way. Passed good. Transcendent!" Giles chuckled. "But being with you... with all of you... with Rupert Benedict Giles, I felt whole. As if you were a piece I didn't know I was missing. I want to feel that again. With you."

Giles ran his thumb over her bottom lip. He wasn't sure what to say. In one way, his heart soared! In another, it wept. "What about-."

"Giles and Buffy," she interrupted. "Remember? Just Giles and Buffy."

He shook his head slowly. "You know we can't avoid this forever."

"Just kiss me," she whispered.

And he did, passionately. As if there wasn't a moment to lose. In actuality, there wasn't. Their time together was short and limited. So best to enjoy it now.

"There you are!" Dawn exclaimed as she spotted Buffy and Giles reenter the dining room. "Where have you two been?"

Buffy and Giles looked to one another. "Umm, Giles and I were just out on the deck. Whale watching."

Giles head fell forward and he closed his eyes. Why couldn't she stop while she was ahead?

Dawn raised an inquisitive brow. "Whale watching. On the river. In the dark."

"We didn't...see...anything."

"Why are you two acting so weird lately?"

"Why are you acting weird?" Buffy retorted, crossing her arms.

"Oh, dear lord," Giles muttered at the girls' bickering and started to walk away.

"Giles, wait!" Dawn called out. He stopped and turned back around. "You were actually the one I was looking for."

"Oh?"

"Dance with me for a bit?"

Giles smiled. "I'd be honored, Dawn."

Buffy watched as Giles lead Dawn to the dance floor. Portia came up beside her, looping her arm through Buffy's and following her gaze. "Making out on the deck?"

"Oh, yeah." Portia giggled, shaking her head.

"Giles, there is something I want to ask you. Well, something else I want to ask you."

"Dawn, is everything alright?" He held one of her hands in his while his other was on her waist. They slowly swayed to the music.

"Yeah. Everything is just great. And I know I have said this before, but I am glad you are here. I don't have much actual family. Just Buffy now, really. Don't get me wrong, I love Willow and Portia and Alex, but you... you are more than that to me. In my heart, you have always been family. No doubt or exceptions about it. Even when we haven't seen eye to eye, I knew you loved and cared for me as I did you. I couldn't even say that about my actual father."

"Dawn, I have no doubt that were your father alive, he would be here with you now. He loved you. Of that I am sure."

Dawn gave him a sad smile. "Well, that makes one of us. But he isn't my point. My point is you. You, Giles, have always been a father to me. Someone who loved me unconditionally. Someone who was always there for me."

"Not always, I'm afraid."

"When it counted, you were. You have done so much for me and I am so thankful. But I have another thing to ask of you." Dawn suddenly looked nervous. She bowed her head.

Giles gently lifted her chin to look him in his worried eyes. "Dawn, what is it? Whatever you need, just ask."

"Would you... would you walk me down the aisle?" Giles froze and stared at her. He wasn't sure what she would ask, but that had not been it. Dawn's nervous look turned into slight panic as he didn't answer. "I understand if it's too much to ask and you don't want to do it. That's fine. Really. I-".

"Dawn," he interrupted. She paused. "I would love to walk you down the aisle." A smile started to spread across his face.

"Really?"

"Really."

Dawn shrieked and practically jumped on him, hugging him tightly. "Oh, I am so happy. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I was so afraid you would say no."

"Why on Earth would I say no to that?"

Dawn stepped back. "I don't know. Just worried. I'm a worrier. Oh, I am so excited! I'm going to tell Jake!" She took off back towards their table.

Willow stepped up next to Giles. "What did you do to make her so happy?"

"She asked me to walk her down the aisle," he said in a still somewhat disbelieving tone.

"She did? Giles, that's great!" Willow hugged his arm and leaned her head against him.

"Indeed. I'm still in a bit of shock really."

"I'm not. Well, I am a little. But only because I already thought you were walking her."

Giles looked at Willow. "Why would you think that?"

She stepped back to see him better. "Well, obviously. Who else would have given her away?"

"Oh."

"Come on, you. My turn for a dance."

Giles rolled his eyes playfully. "You lot are going to wear me out!"

"Oh, hush."